Despite this setback, the case is set to be revisited by a bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Saish Chandra Sharma. The court has directed that the child be presented in court during the next hearing on January 20.
NEW DELHI: For the family of deceased Bengaluru-based engineer Atul Subhash, the Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on a plea filed by his mother, Anju Devi, seeking custody of her four-year-old grandson.
Background of the Case
Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old engineer, was found dead at his residence in Munnekolalu, Bengaluru, on December 9, 2024. The young techie had reportedly taken his life, leaving behind a suicide note and video, in which he blamed his wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family for harassment. The revelations in his suicide note sparked a nationwide outcry, with demands for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Anju Devi, the mother of Atul Subhash, had filed a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court seeking custody of her grandson. However, on January 7, the top court denied her plea, stating that she was a “stranger to the child.”
Despite this setback, the case is set to be revisited by a bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Saish Chandra Sharma. The court has directed that the child be presented in court during the next hearing on January 20.
Pawan Kumar Modi, Atul Subhash’s father, expressed his concerns regarding the welfare of his grandson following the bail of Nikita Singhania and her family members.
He told ANI, “I am worried about my grandson and where he is. We have received some information from the Karnataka police about our grandson… The mother (Nikita Singhania) has no love for the child. She is using him as an ATM to extort money.”
Earlier in January, Nikita Singhania, along with her mother Nisha Singhania and brother Anurag Singhania, was granted bail in connection with Atul Subhash’s suicide case. The bail decision has faced objections from Atul’s parents, who allege that Nikita is misusing her position as the child’s mother to gain financial benefits.
Child Custody Dispute
Advocate Kumar Dushyant Singh, representing Anju Devi, argued that the child, who is under six years of age, should not be kept in a boarding school. During the last hearing, the counsel for Nikita Singhania informed the court that the child is currently studying at a boarding school in Haryana. Singh countered this by presenting photos that showed Atul Subhash’s parents meeting their grandson when he was much younger.
Singh emphasized, “A child below six years of age should not be sent to a boarding school.”
He also alleged that Nikita Singhania had deliberately concealed the child’s location, complicating efforts by the grandparents to maintain contact.
Supreme Court’s Directive
The apex court acknowledged the sensitive nature of the case and directed that the child be presented in court for the January 20 hearing. The bench stated that the matter could not be resolved based on media reports, urging both parties to refrain from public commentary.
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