Fresh allegations of preferential treatment have surfaced in the Twisha Sharma dowry death case, with the late actress's family claiming that her husband, Samarth Singh, received undue favour inside the Jabalpur district court premises on Friday evening — hours before he was formally taken into police custody and transported to Bhopal. The claims have deepened scrutiny over how the case has been handled since Sharma's death.

Allegations Inside Courtroom No. 32

Anurag Srivastava, counsel for Twisha Sharma's father Navnidhi Sharma, alleged that Samarth Singh was seated inside Courtroom No. 32 — the chamber of the District and Sessions Judge — shortly before he appeared before the media. Srivastava questioned how Singh gained access to the courtroom after court hours, alleging that the doors were shut while he was inside. According to the lawyer, Singh had reportedly arrived to surrender after the judges had already left for the day.

'When questions were raised regarding his presence inside the chamber, he allegedly moved to the Bar Association's chamber,' Srivastava claimed. The family's legal team has characterised this as an instance of undue favour, pointing to Singh's familial connection to the judiciary — his mother, Giribala Singh, is a retired judge.

Late-Night Paneer Thali and Custody Transfer

The allegations extend beyond the courtroom. According to sources, after Singh was brought to Bhopal late on Friday night and lodged at the Katara Hills Police Station, he reportedly requested a Paneer Thali around 2 am, citing hunger. Sources claim the meal was arranged at the police station and that Singh consumed it around 2:30 am. Critics of the investigation have cited this as another example of what the family describes as differential treatment for a wanted accused.

High Drama at Jabalpur Court

The scene at the Jabalpur district court on Friday evening was marked by high drama. Eyewitnesses reported that Singh arrived wearing a mask, sunglasses, and a cap, visibly avoiding media interaction. Individuals accompanying him allegedly created a commotion when journalists attempted to approach him. He was subsequently taken into custody by Bhopal Police and transported overnight to the state capital.

Notably, a lookout notice had already been issued against Singh, and police had announced a reward of ₹30,000 for information leading to his arrest. Twisha Sharma's family has alleged that despite this, Singh was moving around freely and was not treated as a wanted accused.

Key Legal Developments

In a significant courtroom development, Singh's legal team reportedly sought custody of Twisha Sharma's body, arguing on the grounds of Hindu customs and rituals and contending that it should be handed over to her husband. The court rejected the plea.

Separately, the Bar Council of India has suspended Singh's licence to practise law. During the suspension period, he is barred from using the prefix 'Advocate' before his name. Singh was expected to be produced before a Bhopal court later on Saturday in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged dowry death of Twisha Sharma.

Pattern of Influence Allegations

The fresh claims add to a series of allegations made by Twisha Sharma's family that Samarth Singh and his mother used their influence to delay action in the case. This is not the first time the family has raised concerns about the pace and fairness of the investigation. The combination of a lookout notice, a cash reward for arrest information, and the accused's reported freedom of movement prior to surrender has drawn sharp public attention to the case.

With Singh now in custody and a court appearance imminent, the focus shifts to whether investigators will pursue the influence allegations alongside the primary dowry death case.