Twisha Sharma's mother-in-law may lose consumer panel post as death probe deepens

Troubles seemed to be mounting for retired judge Giribala Singh as proceedings began to remove her from the post of president of the Bhopal District Consumer Commission in connection with her daughter-in-law Twisha Sharma’s suicide case.

The Madhya Pradesh government has initiated correspondence regarding her appointment and possible resignation from the post of president of the district consumer forum.

The consumer forum functions under the Food and Civil Supplies Department. Giribala Singh currently serves as a judge in the consumer forum. In serious cases, action can include resignation or removal from office. Singh is currently out on anticipatory bail.

The Deputy Secretary of the Food Department has also written to the Registrar of the State Consumer Commission. The letter states that, in light of the case registered against Giribala Singh, an inquiry should be conducted, and a report submitted at the earliest under Rule 9(2) of the Consumer Protection Rules, 2020, which includes provisions for removal from office.

Madhya Pradesh Police have issued a third and final notice to Giribala Singh to record her statement in connection with the death of her daughter-in-law. The state government has also initiated a probe to determine whether Singh, who has been granted anticipatory bail in the case, can continue as chairperson of the consumer court, according to an official circular.p.

Giribala Singh was reportedly not found at her residence on the previous two occasions when notices were served. They also said women and children are not called to court for statement recording, and that such statements are recorded at home.

Meanwhile, Ankur Pandey, lawyer for Twisha Sharma's family, told news agency PTI that a petition had been filed before the principal bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur challenging the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh. "We will contest the bail on the ground that the subordinate court ignored material evidence and provisions related to presumption in dowry death cases under Section 118 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023," Pandey said.

Under the provision, if a woman dies under unnatural circumstances within seven years of marriage and there is evidence of dowry-related cruelty soon before her death, the court shall presume the accused caused the dowry death unless this is proved otherwise.

In a related development, police teams have spread out across Madhya Pradesh and outside the state to trace Twisha's husband, Samarth Singh, who remains absconding. Police have announced a reward of Rs 30,000 for information leading to his arrest. Katara police station house officer Sunil Dubey, who is out of Bhopal leading a team, declined to comment on whether they had got any leads on Samarth Singh's whereabouts.

Twisha Sharma, 33, was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal's Katara Hills area on May 12. Her family accused her in-laws of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide, while the Singh family claimed she was addicted to drugs.

Police have registered an FIR under Sections 80(2), 85 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act, against Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh. The case now stands at a stage where police are pressing for Giribala Singh's statement, her anticipatory bail is under challenge, and efforts to trace Samarth Singh are continuing.

- Ends

Inputs from PTI