Madhya Pradesh High Court denies bail to former judge Giribala Sharma in Tanisha Sharma death case

Madhya Pradesh High Court has rejected the regular bail plea of former district judge Giribala Sharma in connection with the death of her daughter-in-law and former model-actor Tanisha Sharma. Justice Ajay Kumar Niranari passed the order on October 26 after hearing both sides, with a 23-page detailed ruling uploaded late Wednesday.

Key Evidence

The court based its decision on digital transcripts, WhatsApp chats, CCTV footage, and post-mortem reports. WhatsApp conversations revealed deep mental stress and suffocation faced by Tanisha before her death. According to the court, the accused were seen moving toward the roof at 10:23 pm on the night of the incident, and later carrying her down the stairs. Two post-mortem reports, including one from AIIMS New Delhi Medical Board, confirmed the cause of death as ant-mortem hanging.

Charges and Defense

Sixty-four-year-old Giribala faces charges of abetment to suicide and dowry harassment under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Dowry Prohibition Act in a case registered by the CBI. The prosecution alleged ongoing mental harassment, strict monitoring, and pressure to transfer equity investments, alongside disputes over drug addiction and child paternity involving her husband Samarth Singh. Defense lawyers argued that she is innocent, fully cooperating with the probe, and that electronic chats mainly targeted her son, while Tanisha suffered from depression and substance abuse issues.

Context

Investigations into high-profile domestic death cases often rely heavily on forensic extraction from personal electronic devices and CCTV data to establish the sequence of events. The Central Bureau of Investigation took over this case, which highlights the legal complexities surrounding allegations of abetment to suicide and dowry harassment within families.