Justice Hemant Chandangoudar issued the interim order in response to Nikita’s petition challenging the legality of her arrest and the abetment to suicide charges filed against her after her husband’s death. Nikita’s counsel, Bharath Kumar, argued that her arrest was unlawful due to the police’s failure to provide grounds for her detention. He also sought interim bail, highlighting her need to defend herself in the Supreme Court.
Karnataka: The Karnataka High Court directed the father of Atul Subhash, a techie who died by suicide in December 2024, to notify the Supreme Court about the judicial custody of Nikita, his estranged wife and accused in the case.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a petition filed by Atul’s mother seeking custody of her minor grandson.
Justice Hemant Chandangoudar issued the interim order in response to Nikita’s petition challenging the legality of her arrest and the abetment to suicide charges filed against her after her husband’s death. Nikita’s counsel, Bharath Kumar, argued that her arrest was unlawful due to the police’s failure to provide grounds for her detention. He also sought interim bail, highlighting her need to defend herself in the Supreme Court.
State Public Prosecutor-II Vijayakumar Majage requested time until January 6 to submit details of the investigation. Meanwhile, Nikita’s lawyer pointed out that the trial court had scheduled the bail hearing for her and other accused individuals on January 4.
He urged the High Court to direct the trial court to decide on the bail plea on the same day.
The High Court agreed and adjourned further hearings on the petition to January 6.
BACKGROUND
The tragic suicide of 34-year-old techie Atul Subhash has led to the arrest of his estranged wife, Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha, and brother Anurag in an abetment to suicide case. The arrests follow allegations of harassment and extortion outlined in Subhash’s 24-page suicide note and an 80-minute video, both discovered after his death. While Nikita was arrested in Gurugram, her mother and brother were detained in Allahabad. Nikita’s uncle, Sushil Singhania, also named in the case, remains at large.
Subhash, originally from Bihar’s Samastipur, accused Nikita and her family of harassing him for money. He claimed that Nikita demanded hefty sums to set up businesses and left their home in 2021 with their son after disputes arose. In his note, Subhash detailed how Nikita filed multiple legal cases against him and his family, including charges of dowry harassment, cruelty, and even murder. These accusations were later withdrawn.
He further alleged that Nikita demanded Rs 3 crore as alimony and maintenance to settle the case, while a court had already ordered him to pay Rs 80,000 monthly for the upkeep of Nikita and their son.
“The more I work hard and become better at my work, the more I and my family will be harassed and extorted, and the whole legal system will encourage and help my harassers,”
he wrote in his note, targeting the judicial system for its perceived bias in such cases.
Subhash’s family claimed that he was under immense stress due to the legal battles, which required him to travel between Bengaluru and Jaunpur 40 times. They also alleged that Nikita refused to let him meet their son, demanding money in return. Subhash stated that Nikita and her mother had even instigated him to die on two occasions.
His brother, Bikas Kumar, has filed an abetment to suicide case against Nikita and her family, leading to their judicial custody.
Subhash’s death has ignited widespread outrage, with many criticizing the misuse of laws like the Dowry Prohibition Act and provisions aimed at protecting women. His note, which begins each page with “justice is due,” has been widely circulated, sparking calls for a review of legal frameworks perceived to disproportionately favor women in marital disputes.
While Nikita’s uncle, Sushil Singhania, has denied the allegations, stating they are baseless, the case has reignited debates around legal protections and their alleged misuse.
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