Facts of the Case:
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The Background: Twisha Sharma, a 33-year-old former corporate professional, actor, and Miss Pune winner originally from Noida, married Samarth Singh, a practicing advocate based in Bhopal, in December 2025.
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The Incident: On the night of May 12, 2026, Twisha was found dead under mysterious circumstances, hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area. Her family alleged foul play, pointing out visible injury marks on her body. The initial post-mortem report noted that death occurred due to “antemortem hanging by ligature,” but also confirmed multiple simple injuries caused by blunt force on her body.
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The Allegations: Twisha’s family filed a complaint alleging persistent mental harassment, physical assault, and dowry-related demands by her husband and her mother-in-law, Giribala Singh—a retired District and Sessions Judge. The accused family countered by claiming she was struggling with drug addiction.
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The Charges: The Bhopal Police registered an FIR under Sections 80(2) (dowry death), 85 (cruelty by husband or relatives), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
BCI’s Disciplinary Action & Professional Ethics:
Following the registration of the FIR and a 10-day period during which the accused husband was evading authorities, the Bar Council of India (BCI) stepped in:
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Interim License Suspension: Highlighting the strict professional obligations of a legal practitioner, BCI Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra issued an interim directive barring Samarth Singh from legal practice with immediate effect.
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Scope of Restriction: The order prohibits Singh from appearing, pleading, acting, or filing Vakalatnamas before any court, tribunal, or statutory authority across India until further notice.
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Preserving Judicial Integrity: The BCI emphasized that advocates are officers of the court. Given the “grave” nature of the criminal charges, immediate preventive action was deemed necessary to safeguard public confidence in the administration of justice. The Council clarified that this is a preventive measure and not an final declaration of ultimate guilt.
Parallel Judicial & Procedural Developments:
The case has triggered massive institutional developments due to allegations of potential evidence tampering and systemic bias:
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Arrest and Custody: After withdrawing his anticipatory bail application from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Samarth Singh attempted to surrender at the Jabalpur District Court. He was subsequently taken into custody by the police and has been remanded to 7 days of police custody by a Bhopal court.
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Second Autopsy Ordered: Following a plea by Twisha’s family raising serious concerns over the handling of the initial investigation, the Madhya Pradesh High Court permitted a second post-mortem examination. A specialized independent medical board from AIIMS, Delhi was flown in via a special flight to conduct the fresh procedure in Bhopal.
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CBI Probe Recommended: Recognizing the sensitivity and public outcry surrounding the matter, the Madhya Pradesh government has officially recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case.
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Supreme Court Takes Suo Motu Cognisance: In a major intervention, the Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter, registering a criminal writ petition titled: “In Re: Alleged Institutional Bias and Procedural Discrepancies in the unnatural death of a young girl at her matrimonial home.” A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant is scheduled to hear the matter on Monday to examine systemic issues concerning investigative integrity when high-profile or judicially connected individuals are involved.