Bengaluru techie’s suicide: Atul Subhash’s wife and in-laws get bail
The wife and in-laws of Bengaluru-based software engineer Atul Subhash were granted bail by a Bengaluru sessions court on Saturday. Subhash, aged 34, died by suicide on December 9, leaving behind a video and note accusing his estranged wife and her family of harassment, extortion, and mental torture.
Subhash’s wife Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha Singhania, and brother Anurag Singhania were arrested after a fast-tracked directive from the Karnataka High Court. Nikita was detained in Gurugram, while Nisha and Anurag were apprehended in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
In his suicide note, Subhash alleged that his wife and her family drove him to take the extreme step by filing false cases and demanding ₹3 crore to settle disputes. Married in 2019, the couple had a son in 2020.
Allegations against wife and in-laws
Subhash’s father, Pawan Kumar, stated that his son suffered silently and wished his parents to have custody of his four-year-old son. Kumar also accused Nikita of treating the child as a financial asset, with escalating monetary demands ranging from ₹20,000 to ₹80,000 monthly.
Subhash’s parents have filed for custody of their grandson, claiming they are unaware of his current whereabouts. The Supreme Court is set to hear the case on January 7.
Subhash’s lawyer, Akash Jindal, criticised the bail granted to the accused, arguing that the crime warranted stricter judicial scrutiny. He raised concerns over the alleged use of the child’s custody as leverage, adding that a habeas corpus petition has been filed to locate the boy.
