Reading books in jail: Women's panel rejects privileges claim for Giribala Singh
The Madhya Pradesh State Commission for Women inspected the Bhopal Central Jail and met Giribala Singh. The panel said it found no evidence to support allegations of VIP treatment.
The Madhya Pradesh State Commission for Women has found no evidence of special privileges or VIP treatment in jail for former judge Giribala Singh, who is serving a sentence in connection with the death of her daughter-in-law, Twisha Sharma.
The findings emerged after the panel's chairperson Rekha Yadav inspected the Bhopal Central Jail on Wednesday and interacted with female inmates, including Singh, who is lodged as prisoner number 71.
During the visit, the team inspected the women's barracks, prison facilities and the medical wing of the jail.
Officials said Giribala Singh was found reading the book, The Pregnant King by Devdutt Pattanaik, when the team met her.
Yadav spoke to Singh about her health, food and living conditions inside the prison.
"She informed the Commission that the arrangements in the jail were normal and that she was not experiencing any problems," officials said.
The inspection also focused on allegations that the former judge was receiving preferential treatment because of her background.
The Commission's action came amid allegations of special treatment inside the jail had resurfaced in recent weeks, prompting criticism.
"During the enquiry, no evidence was found to suggest that Giribala Singh was being given any kind of VIP treatment in the jail," the panel said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested retired district judge Giribala Singh on May 28, hours after the Madhya Pradesh High Court cancelled the anticipatory bail that had earlier protected her from arrest in the case. Her son, Samarth, was arrested a day earlier.
The two have been remanded to judicial custody until June 16.
During their last appearance before a Judicial Magistrate First Class court in Bhopal, Giribala Singh on June 2 directly addressed the magistrate, departing from the usual court procedure.
She argued that she and her son faced a serious threat to their lives inside Bhopal Central Jail, noting that, during her judicial career, she had sentenced several convicts who are now lodged in the same prison.
Seeking protection, Singh urged the court to house them in a secure and segregated section of the jail.
As part of its investigation, the CBI reconstructed the circumstances surrounding Twisha Sharma's alleged suicide at her marital home in Bhopal using dummies.
Assisted by forensic and crime scene experts, the agency asked Giribala and Samarth Singh to provide a detailed account of the events of the night of May 12.
Twisha's initial post-mortem report recorded multiple injuries caused by blunt-force impact, lending support to allegations by her family that she had been subjected to prolonged domestic violence and mental harassment over unmet dowry demands.
The Madhya Pradesh State Commission for Women has found no evidence of special privileges or VIP treatment in jail for former judge Giribala Singh, who is serving a sentence in connection with the death of her daughter-in-law, Twisha Sharma.
The findings emerged after the panel's chairperson Rekha Yadav inspected the Bhopal Central Jail on Wednesday and interacted with female inmates, including Singh, who is lodged as prisoner number 71.
During the visit, the team inspected the women's barracks, prison facilities and the medical wing of the jail.
Officials said Giribala Singh was found reading the book, The Pregnant King by Devdutt Pattanaik, when the team met her.
Yadav spoke to Singh about her health, food and living conditions inside the prison.
"She informed the Commission that the arrangements in the jail were normal and that she was not experiencing any problems," officials said.
The inspection also focused on allegations that the former judge was receiving preferential treatment because of her background.
The Commission's action came amid allegations of special treatment inside the jail had resurfaced in recent weeks, prompting criticism.
"During the enquiry, no evidence was found to suggest that Giribala Singh was being given any kind of VIP treatment in the jail," the panel said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested retired district judge Giribala Singh on May 28, hours after the Madhya Pradesh High Court cancelled the anticipatory bail that had earlier protected her from arrest in the case. Her son, Samarth, was arrested a day earlier.
The two have been remanded to judicial custody until June 16.
During their last appearance before a Judicial Magistrate First Class court in Bhopal, Giribala Singh on June 2 directly addressed the magistrate, departing from the usual court procedure.
She argued that she and her son faced a serious threat to their lives inside Bhopal Central Jail, noting that, during her judicial career, she had sentenced several convicts who are now lodged in the same prison.
Seeking protection, Singh urged the court to house them in a secure and segregated section of the jail.
As part of its investigation, the CBI reconstructed the circumstances surrounding Twisha Sharma's alleged suicide at her marital home in Bhopal using dummies.
Assisted by forensic and crime scene experts, the agency asked Giribala and Samarth Singh to provide a detailed account of the events of the night of May 12.
Twisha's initial post-mortem report recorded multiple injuries caused by blunt-force impact, lending support to allegations by her family that she had been subjected to prolonged domestic violence and mental harassment over unmet dowry demands.
