Twisha dowry death case: Advocate husband's legal license suspended

New Delhi: The Bar Council of India on Friday suspended advocate Samarth Singh from legal practice with immediate effect in connection with the alleged dowry death of his wife, model-turned-actor Twisha Sharma.

In an interim order, the apex bar body said the accusations against him were "grave" and impacted the dignity and public image of the legal profession.

The bar body noted that it was under a statutory duty to preserve the purity of the profession and to ensure that the conduct of advocates does not erode public confidence in the administration of justice.

"Accordingly, Samarth Singh, Advocate, is hereby suspended from practice as an advocate with immediate effect, pending further consideration by the Bar Council of India and/or the appropriate Disciplinary Committee," the order said.

Twisha Sharma, the 33-year-old model-turned-actor from Noida, was found hanging at her marital home in Bhopal's Katara Hills area on May 12. While her in-laws allege she suffered from drug addiction, her family maintains she was harassed for dowry, leading to her death.

The Bar Council said the matter involved "serious allegations" arising out of Twisha's death within a few months of marriage at her matrimonial home.

Referring to the FIR and criminal proceedings, the Bar Council said it had been informed that Samarth Singh was absconding and not cooperating with the investigation.

"The allegations are grave and have a direct bearing upon the dignity, discipline and public image of the legal profession," the order said, adding that advocates are officers of the court and members of a regulated profession.

With this order, Singh would not be allowed to appear, act, plead, practise, file 'vakalatnama' or hold himself out as entitled to practise before any court, tribunal or authority across the country.

The development came on a day of significant movement in the case.

Samarth, who had been on the run for more than a week, withdrew his anticipatory bail plea before the Madhya Pradesh High Court and later surrendered before a court in Jabalpur. He was subsequently taken into custody by the Bhopal police.

The high court also ordered a second autopsy of Twisha by a specialised team from AIIMS Delhi following concerns raised by her family.

In addition, the high court issued notice to Twisha's mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, on pleas seeking cancellation of her bail for alleged non-cooperation with the investigation.