Bhopal court rejects Samarth Singh's bail plea; ₹10,000 reward announced
Synopsis
A Bhopal court has rejected the interim bail plea of absconding advocate Samarth Singh, accused in his wife Twisha Sharma's death, even as police put a ₹10,000 bounty on him. The family's refusal to accept her body — pending a second post-mortem outside Madhya Pradesh — signals deep mistrust in the state's investigation machinery.
Key Takeaways
Bhopal district court rejected advocate Samarth Singh's interim bail plea on 18 May in connection with wife Twisha Sharma's death.
Singh has been absconding since the night of 12 May , when Twisha Sharma, 33 , was found dead in Katara Hills, Bhopal .
Bhopal police announced a reward of ₹10,000 for information leading to Singh's arrest; his mobile phones are switched off.
Singh's mother, Giribala Singh — a retired Bhopal district court judge — is a co-accused and has already been granted interim bail.
A six-member SIT headed by ACP Rajnish Kashyap is probing allegations of dowry harassment, assault, and evidence destruction.
Twisha's family has refused to accept her body until a second post-mortem is conducted outside Madhya Pradesh , citing doubts about a fair investigation.
A Bhopal district court on Monday, 18 May rejected the interim bail application of absconding advocate Samarth Singh, accused in connection with the death of his wife, Twisha Sharma, at their matrimonial home in Bhopal's Katara Hills. The ruling came as Bhopal police separately announced a reward of ₹10,000 for information leading to Singh's arrest.
What Happened in Court
The bail plea was heard by Justice Pallavi Dube at the Bhopal District Court, with proceedings lasting nearly two-and-a-half hours between 3 pm and 5:30 pm. Both the defence and counsel representing Twisha's family presented arguments before the court.
Twisha Sharma's family opposed the application, telling the court that Singh has been absconding since the night of her death and that no relief should be granted while he continues to evade arrest. The court, after hearing both sides, rejected the interim bail plea.
The family also informed the court that Singh's mother, Giribala Singh — a retired judge of the Bhopal district court who retired in February 2023 — is a co-accused in the case and has already been granted interim bail.
Police Hunt and Reward
Katara Hills police station Station House Officer Sunil Dubey confirmed that search operations are being conducted at multiple locations. 'A reward of ₹10,000 has been declared against Samarth. Police are continuously searching for him,' Dubey said.
According to police, Singh's mobile phones are switched off. Officers are attempting to trace him through relatives, family members, and social media accounts.
Background: Twisha Sharma's Death
Twisha Sharma, 33, was found dead at her matrimonial home in Katara Hills, Bhopal, on the night of 12 May. Police stated that Samarth Singh dropped her at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal that night and has been missing since. A first information report has been registered against Singh and his mother under charges related to dowry death, dowry harassment, and other provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Family Demands Second Post-Mortem
Twisha's body remains at the mortuary of AIIMS Bhopal. Her family has refused to accept it until a second post-mortem examination is conducted outside Madhya Pradesh, alleging that a fair investigation is not being carried out within the state.
SIT Formed to Probe the Case
On Sunday, Bhopal police constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. The SIT is headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajnish Kashyap and is investigating allegations of dowry harassment, assault, and destruction of evidence. With the court rejecting bail and a reward now in place, pressure on investigators to locate Singh is intensifying.
Point of View
The prime suspect's phones are off, and the victim's family refuses to accept the body until a post-mortem is held outside the state. Each of these details points to a crisis of institutional trust — the family's demand for an out-of-state autopsy is, in effect, a public indictment of Madhya Pradesh's investigative credibility. The SIT's formation was swift, but swift formation is not the same as independent inquiry. Whether ACP Kashyap's team can operate free of the pressures that surround a case involving the judiciary's own is the question mainstream coverage is not asking loudly enough.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Bhopal court reject Samarth Singh's bail plea?
The court rejected the interim bail application because Singh has been absconding since the night of his wife Twisha Sharma's death on 12 May, and the victim's family argued that no relief should be granted while he continues to evade arrest. Justice Pallavi Dube heard arguments from both sides over nearly two-and-a-half hours before dismissing the plea.
What is the ₹10,000 reward announced by Bhopal police?
Bhopal police have declared a reward of ₹10,000 for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of Samarth Singh, who has been missing since 12 May. His mobile phones are switched off and police are tracing him through relatives, family members, and social media accounts.
Who is Twisha Sharma and how did she die?
Twisha Sharma, 33, was found dead at her matrimonial home in Bhopal's Katara Hills area on the night of 12 May. Police said her husband Samarth Singh dropped her at AIIMS Bhopal that night and has been absconding since. An FIR has been registered under charges of dowry death, dowry harassment, and other provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Why is Twisha Sharma's family refusing to accept her body?
The family has refused to accept Twisha's body — currently at the AIIMS Bhopal mortuary — until a second post-mortem is conducted outside Madhya Pradesh. They have alleged that a fair investigation is not being carried out within the state.
What is the SIT formed in the Twisha Sharma case?
Bhopal police on Sunday formed a six-member Special Investigation Team headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajnish Kashyap. The SIT is probing allegations of dowry harassment, assault, and destruction of evidence in connection with Twisha Sharma's death.
