The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Friday suspended the licence of Samarth Singh, a lawyer based in Bhopal, nearly ten days after his wife, Twisha Sharma, was found hanging under suspicious circumstances at her matrimonial home in the Katara Hills area of the city.
The disciplinary action was taken after serious allegations emerged in connection with Twisha Sharma’s death, including accusations of dowry harassment, cruelty, and sustained mental abuse. According to the Bar Council of India, a criminal case and FIR had already been registered against Samarth Singh and several others in relation to allegations involving dowry death and harassment.
In its interim order, the BCI observed that the allegations against the advocate were extremely serious and directly affected the dignity, credibility, and public image of the legal profession. The Council stated that advocates function as officers of the court and that maintaining public trust in the justice system remains one of its primary responsibilities.
The Council also noted concerns regarding Samarth Singh’s alleged lack of cooperation with the ongoing investigation and pointed out that he had reportedly remained absconding for several days following the incident. Because of these circumstances, the BCI stated that immediate and urgent action was necessary.
In the statement issued by BCI Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, the Council said that, considering the gravity of the allegations, the criminal proceedings already initiated, and the advocate’s alleged conduct after the incident, an urgent interim suspension order was justified.
Under the suspension order, Samarth Singh has been barred from appearing, acting, pleading, or practising before any court, tribunal,l or authority anywhere in India during the suspension period. He has also been prohibited from filing vakalatnamas or presenting himself as a practising enrolled advocate until further orders are passed.
The legal action coincided with dramatic developments in the criminal investigation. After reportedly remaining on the run for nearly ten days, Samarth Singh appeared before a court in Jabalpur to surrender. However, confusion reportedly unfolded at the court premises as he moved between different courtrooms while police personnel waited outside to take him into custody.
Eventually, Jabalpur Police detained Samarth Singh, and authorities later confirmed that he was being taken back to Bhopal for further legal proceedings and investigation.
Twisha Sharma, aged 33 and known as a former Miss Pune title holder, was found hanging at her marital home on May 12. Since her death, conflicting claims have emerged from both her family and her in-laws regarding the circumstances leading to the incident.
Twisha’s family has accused her husband and in-laws of subjecting her to continuous dowry-related harassment, emotional pressure, and mental abuse. They have also alleged coercion connected to her pregnancy and claimed that she was pushed into extreme distress over an extended period of time.
On the other hand, members of her husband’s family have presented a different version of events. Her mother-in-law, retired judge Giribala Singh, claimed during media interactions that Twisha had been struggling with mental health issues and substance use problems.
According to Giribala Singh, Twisha had allegedly admitted to consuming large quantities of marijuana during her pregnancy and was undergoing psychiatric treatment. She further claimed that Twisha had been prescribed medication commonly used for patients suffering from schizophrenia.
The mother-in-law also alleged that Twisha did not wish to continue her pregnancy and had taken abortion pills on May 7. According to her claims, Twisha later wanted to reverse the abortion process, but doctors reportedly informed her that it was medically impossible.
Meanwhile, Twisha Sharma’s family has rejected these allegations and continued to insist that she was murdered rather than having died by suicide. They pointed to multiple injury marks allegedly found on her body and questioned the findings of the initial post-mortem report.
The first post-mortem examination had concluded that hanging was the cause of death. However, following objections raised by Twisha’s family and subsequent judicial intervention, the court ordered a second post-mortem examination to further investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
The case has now escalated significantly, with the matter being transferred for investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following judicial directions.
Additional developments in the case on Friday included a High Court order directing a second post-mortem examination and a notice reportedly issued to Twisha Sharma’s mother-in-law over allegations that she was not cooperating fully with investigators.
The investigation into the suspicious death, allegations of dowry harassment, and the conflicting claims made by both families is currently ongoing.
