In connection with Bengaluru-based AI engineer Atul Subhash’s suicide, the Marathahalli police today registered an FIR against four individuals. Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha Singhania, her brother Anurag Singhania and her uncle, Sushil Singhania are among the accused. Bikas Kumar, Subhash’s brother filed a complaint under Sections 108 (abetment of suicide) and 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which they have been booked for under.
Atul alleged that Nikita and her family had manufactured cases; they wanted to settle for ₹3 crore, Bikas alleged. This harassment, said he, had forced Atul to give up, what with his having to work in Bengaluru and fight court cases in Uttar Pradesh.
Atul was found hanging on Monday in Bengaluru home. In a 24-page suicide note and 90 minute video he accused his wife and her family of legal harassment. “Justice is Due” was how he opened his note, saying marital discord and litigation pushed him to resort to this extreme measure.
Atul’s note had serious allegations like murder it had also false allegations of unnatural sexual activities, with a demand of ₹2 lakh monthly maintenance. His wife once mocked him in court, she said, ‘Why don’t you die by suicide too?’ Desperately he bemoaned the fact that it worked against him in opposing those he perceived as his enemies.
After the incident however, public outrage didn’t end there, the Ministry of Law and Justice addressed the matter. It reiterated its commitment to ensuring that family court cases are conducted with sensitivity, encourage reconciliation and to do so in a timely and impartial way.
If you or someone you know is suffering from problems similar to this, call up helplines like Aasra (022 27546669) and Sneha (044 24640050) for a sympathetic ear.
