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Why did Twisha Sharma's mother-in-law call judges, CCTV vendors? Family seeks answers
The family questioned why Giribala Singh was allegedly in contact with senior public officials, members of the judiciary and technicians linked to CCTV.
The family of Twisha Sharma, a model-turned-actor who was found dead at her marital home in Bhopal earlier this month, has sought a probe into a series of phone calls allegedly made by her mother-in-law, retired additional district judge Giribala Singh, shortly after the incident.
In a detailed statement, the family questioned why Giribala Singh was allegedly in contact with senior public officials, members of the judiciary and technicians linked to CCTV maintenance immediately after Twisha’s death, while the victim’s parents were “left in the dark,” news agency PTI reported.
Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh government has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the probe into Twisha's death allegedly due to harassment by in-laws.
Post-incident communications
Family's statement came a day after Giribala Singh informed a First Class Judicial Magistrate that eight CCTV cameras installed at her residence were being managed by a private company and were not being maintained properly. According to her submission before the court, the footage reflected an incorrect timestamp, showing a discrepancy of two days, two hours and 20 minutes.
Also read | Twisha Sharma dowry death case: Ex-judge Giribala Singh gets final notice for recording statement
She stated in her application that the wrong date and time in the footage was creating confusion among the public.
Twisha’s family, however, said the sequence of communications that allegedly took place after the incident needed closer scrutiny. Referring to documents submitted in court, the family claimed Giribala Singh had contacted senior members of the judiciary, Lokayukta officials and technicians associated with CCTV systems.
Though some of the calls have been described publicly as condolence calls, the family questioned the timing of those conversations and the involvement of technical personnel.
Also read | Twisha Sharma’s kin demand probe into her mother-in-law’s calls to public figures, CCTV technicians
“While the family respects every individual who expressed sympathy... it is unable to understand how persons associated with CCTV maintenance or technical services became relevant participants in such communications immediately after the incident,” the statement said.
The family further said CCTV footage and digital records are important pieces of evidence in any suspicious death investigation and urged investigators to independently verify the purpose and context of each communication.
“This is not an allegation but a legitimate question which deserves clarification through a fair and transparent investigation,” the statement added.
Questions over investigation and public statements
The family also expressed concern that while multiple high-level communications were allegedly taking place, they themselves were struggling to obtain information about their daughter’s condition and the circumstances surrounding her death.
Also read | Twisha dowry death: Mother-in-law seeks recording of DVR contents by police
“A grieving mother and father were desperately searching for answers regarding the condition and circumstances of their daughter, yet they found themselves dependent upon fragmented information,” the statement said.
It also questioned how Giribala Singh, who is facing criminal allegations in the case, was allegedly able to give interviews while the investigation remained active.
“Twisha Sharma is no longer alive to explain her version of events. She cannot answer allegations... The focus should remain on discovering the truth rather than questioning the character of a person who cannot respond,” the family stated.
Police action and legal proceedings
Twisha Sharma was found hanging at her marital home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area on May 12. Her family has accused her in-laws of harassing her for dowry and driving her to death. Her in-laws have claimed that she was addicted to drugs.
Also read | Bhopal ‘dowry death' case: Lookout notice issued against deceased woman's absconding husband
Police registered an FIR under Sections 80(2), 85 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with relevant sections of the Dowry Prohibition Act against Twisha’s husband Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh.
Top Developments in case
MP govt seeks CBI probe
The Madhya Pradesh has asked the CBI to take over the probe into the death of Twisha Sharma.
Ex-judge Giribala Singh gets final notice from police
Bhopal police have issued a third and final notice to Giribala Singh for recording her statement in connection with the case. She has been booked along with Twisha Sharma’s husband in the dowry harassment case.
Absconding husband moves High Court for anticipatory bail
Samarth Singh, who is currently absconding, has approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking pre-arrest bail. In his plea, he claimed that his family was cooperating with investigators and argued that custodial interrogation was not necessary.
Friends and relatives protest at Jantar Mantar
Relatives and friends of Twisha Sharma staged a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding a CBI investigation into her death. The protest took place days after the 33-year-old was found hanging at her marital home in Bhopal.
Autopsy says death caused by hanging
The post-mortem report stated that Twisha Sharma died due to “antemortem hanging by ligature”. The report also noted several simple injuries caused by blunt force on different parts of her body.
(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
