Following the rejection of his anticipatory bail application by a Bhopal court four days ago, Samarth Singh has now applied in the Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur to secure anticipatory bail.
Samarth, a Bhopal-based criminal lawyer, is the absconding husband of former Miss Pune Twisha Sharma (33), who was found dead under suspicious circumstances, allegedly by hanging, on the terrace of the couple’s house in Katara Hills locality of Bhopal on the night of 11 May.
Meanwhile, the family of deceased Twisha Singh also approached the MP High Court and submitted an application urging the court to cancel the anticipatory bail given by a Bhopal Court to Samarth’s mother, retired judge Giribala Singh, who is currently serving as the Chairperson of the District Consumer Grievances Redressal Commission in Bhopal.
With these two developments on Thursday, the legal battle between the two families, , which has reached the MP High Court, intensified.
According to Samarth Singh’s advocate Mrigendra Singh, they have applied in the Principal Bench of MP High Court in Jabalpur seeking anticipatory bail, and they are also going to move a writ petition for a CBI probe into the case.
On the other hand, Twisha’s family lawyer, Ankur Pandey said that they would contest the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh on the ground that the subordinate court ignored evidence and provisions related to presumption in dowry death cases under section 118 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023.
The same Bhopal court that rejected Samarth Singh’s anticipatory bail application had granted anticipatory bail to his mother.
Twisha Sharma’s parents have been accusing her in-laws of harassing her for dowry and “murdering” her. On the other hand, Giribala Singh has been claiming that Twisha was addicted to drugs, had psychological problems, and committed suicide.
The Katara Hills Police have registered an FIR against Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh under Sections 80(2), 85 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with relevant provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Bhopal Police is investigating the case, and at least six police teams are in search of Samarth. The Police had earlier announced a cash reward of Rs 10000 for information leading to Samarth Singh’s arrest, which has now been raised to Rs 30000.
The police have also issued a look-out notice against Samarth, and approached a court seeking cancellation of his passport.