The Karnataka High Court directed the trial court to make a decision on the interim bail plea filed by Nikita Singhania, the wife of Atul Subhash. Nikita has requested interim bail and has also challenged her arrest, stating that the police did not inform her of the reasons for her detention.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court instructed a sessions court in Bengaluru to hear and resolve the interim bail plea of Nikita Singhania, the wife of techie Atul Subhash, who died by suicide last month after alleging harassment by his estranged wife and her family.
The court set a deadline of January 4 for this decision.
A Bench led by Justice Hemant Chandangoudar, On January 1, also directed Subhash’s father, Bikas Kumar Modi, to inform the Supreme Court about the family’s petition seeking custody of their grandson.
The interim order was issued while considering Singhania’s petition for interim bail and her challenge against her arrest. Singhania’s counsel argued that her arrest was unlawful because the police had not provided the grounds for it. The counsel further requested the High Court to grant interim bail so that Singhania could defend herself in the Supreme Court, where her mother-in-law has filed a habeas corpus petition.
He emphasized that without bail, Singhania would be unable to participate in the proceedings before the apex court, and the habeas corpus petition could lead to a custody dispute likely to be resolved in her absence.
The High Court subsequently postponed further hearings until January 6, after learning that Singhania’s bail application is set to be heard by the trial court on January 4.
Atul Subhash, who worked for an automobile company in Bengaluru, allegedly took his own life after being pressured for a Rs 3 crore divorce settlement. He ended his life in his apartment early on December 9, leaving behind a 90-minute video and a 40-page death note detailing how the harassment from his wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family led him to this tragic decision.
Atul Subhash, in his video, shared that he married Nikita Singhania in 2019 after meeting her on a matchmaking site and that they had a son the following year. He alleged that his wife’s family repeatedly demanded large sums of money, which led to her leaving him and their son in 2021 after he refused to comply.
Three individuals in connection with Atul Subhash’s suicide his wife, her mother, and brother were arrested by Bengaluru Police and have been placed in 14-day judicial custody.
Atul Subhash, a resident of Telangana, tragically ended his life amid allegations of dowry harassment and family conflicts. This case has drawn national attention, shedding light on the complexities and sensitivities involved in dowry-related accusations in India.
However, the Supreme Court later stepped in this case emphasizing the need for a fair and balanced judicial approach in these matters. This case highlights the important societal and legal challenges that accompany dowry-related disputes.