The Bar Council of India – which regulates the legal profession in the country – on Friday suspended the licence of advocate Samarth Singh—an accused in the alleged dowry death case of his wife Twisha Sharma within a few months of marriage at her matrimonial home in Bhopal.Related news: Dowry death case: Twisha Sharma’s husband taken into custody from Jabalpur court premises“Shri 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. During the period of suspension, Shri Samarth Singh, Advocate, shall not appear, act, plead, practise, file vakalatnama, or hold himself out as entitled to practise before any Court, Tribunal, Authority or forum in India,” BCI Chairman Manan K Mishra said in a statement.“The allegations are grave and have a direct bearing upon the dignity, discipline and public image of the legal profession. An advocate is not merely a private individual but an officer of the Court and a member of a regulated profession. The Bar Council of India is under a statutory duty to preserve the purity of the profession and to ensure that the conduct of advocates does not erode public confidence in the administration of justice,” Mishra said.He said the order has been passed as an urgent interim measure in the interest of the dignity and discipline of the legal profession, without prejudice to the criminal investigation, trial, or any defence available to the concerned advocate in accordance with law.“In view of the seriousness of the allegations, the role of advocate in killing his wife, the registration of criminal proceedings, the fact that the concerned advocate is the husband of the deceased, and the further circumstance that he is stated to be absconding, it is considered necessary to pass an urgent interim order in the interest of the legal profession and public confidence,” he said.Accused Samarth Singh—who was on the run for more than a week –on Friday withdrew his anticipatory bail application filed in the MP High Court and appeared before the Jabalpur District Court this evening to surrender. A team of Bhopal police took him in their custody and left with him for the state capital.The BCI said, “The matter shall be placed before the appropriate Disciplinary Committee/competent statutory body at the earliest for confirmation, modification, vacation or further orders, after affording such opportunity as may be considered appropriate in accordance with law.”