The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Friday suspended advocate Samarth Singh from practising law with immediate effect in connection with the alleged dowry death case of his wife, model-turned-actor Twisha Sharma.

In its interim order, the apex legal body said the allegations against Singh were serious and had the potential to damage the image, integrity and discipline of the legal profession.

Bar Council Says Advocates Must Maintain Public Trust

The Bar Council stated that advocates are officers of the court and their conduct should not weaken public confidence in the justice system. It further noted that the allegations against Samarth Singh had a “direct bearing” on the dignity of the legal profession.

“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 stated.

Following the suspension, Singh cannot appear in court, file vakalatnama, plead or practise before any court, tribunal or authority across the country until further orders are issued.

Twisha Sharma Found Dead Months After Marriage

Twisha Sharma, 33, was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area on May 12, only a few months after her marriage.

While her in-laws claimed that she was struggling with drug addiction, Twisha’s family alleged that she faced dowry harassment, which pushed her towards death.

The Bar Council also referred to the FIR and the ongoing criminal investigation while describing the matter as involving “serious allegations” linked to the death of a woman within months of marriage.

Bar Council Notes Alleged Non-Cooperation in Investigation

The BCI further stated that it had received information suggesting that Samarth Singh was absconding and allegedly not cooperating with investigators during the probe.

The development came amid major twists in the case on Friday. Samarth Singh, who had reportedly been missing for over a week, withdrew his anticipatory bail plea before the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Later, he surrendered before a court in Jabalpur, following which Bhopal police took him into custody.

Madhya Pradesh High Court Orders Second Autopsy

Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed authorities to conduct a second autopsy of Twisha Sharma through a specialised medical team from AIIMS Delhi.

The court issued the order after Twisha’s family raised concerns over the findings of the initial postmortem examination.

Court Issues Notice to Twisha Sharma’s Mother-in-Law

In another development, the high court issued a notice to Twisha Sharma’s mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, over petitions seeking cancellation of her bail.

The petitions alleged that she was not cooperating with the ongoing investigation into the case.