In an important development in the Bengaluru techie suicide case, Nikita Singhania-the estranged wife of Atul Subhash-was arrested along with her mother, Nisha, and brother, Anurag, on charges of abetment to suicide and dowry harassment.
The case attracted national attention after Subhash’s tragic death and the damning accounts he left behind.
Chronology of Events
2019-2021: Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old AI specialist, married Nikita, an IT professional, in 2019.
However, there were reports of discord in their marriage when Nikita and her family allegedly began demanding large sums of money from Subhash in order to set up their own businesses.
The two became parents to a boy in 2020, but by 2021, the relationship had soured. Nikita left the marital home and filed a multitude of cases against Subhash, including accusations of dowry harassment and physical abuse.
2022 April: Problems for Subhash worsened tremendously after Nikita filed a slew of cases against him, putting him in dire financial straits.
December 9, 2024: Subhash was found dead in his apartment in Bengaluru. They found a 24-page note, listing the myriad of grievances his wife and her family had directed at him, as well as a 90-minute video he had left behind.
In the note, he alleged that Nikita had asked for Rs. 1 crore for maintenance from him and further upped the demand to Rs. 3 crore later, making it difficult for him to bear.
At some point, she also sought child support of Rs. 2 lakh a month, putting incredible financial strain on him.
December 14, 2024: Bengaluru Police arrested Nikita from Gurugram in Haryana, while her mother and brother were detained in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
The arrest witnesses the trio being produced before a local court in Bengaluru. They are housed in judicial custody for 14 days.
Legal framework and details of the case differ
In Bengaluru, the police registered an FIR against the accused under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act for abetment to suicide.
The complaint by one Bikas Kumar, brother of Subhash, was lodged that led to the arrests.
The note cited constant harassment and legal tussles and generated a public talk about misuse of dowry laws and how such low key harassment has caused adversity to mental health.
With the tragic death of Subhash, a nation-wide debate has arisen on mental health, economic coercion in marriage, and calls for reforms in dowry-related criminal proceedings.
Besides shedding light, the case denotes the plight of the people stuck in prolonged legal battles, to say nothing of the importance of guaranteeing mental health support during marital conflicts.
The investigations are also intended to throw further light on the accusations and achieve justice for the parties.
It also calls for a more reasonable approach in dealing with marital disputes.
