The Supreme Court Today (Jan 20) directed the wife of a Bengaluru engineer Atul Subhash, who tragically died by suicide last year, to present their young son via video conferencing. In a habeas corpus plea filed by the child’s grandmother, the court demanded to “see the child” while hearing custody claims. The case involves allegations from the deceased blaming his wife and in-laws for emotional distress leading to his death.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday instructed the wife of a Bengaluru-based engineer who died by suicide last year to present their young son before the court.
A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Saish Chandra Sharma directed the estranged wife, Nikita Singhania, to produce the child through video conferencing.
“This is a habeas corpus petition. We want to see the child. Produce the child,”
-the bench said during the hearing.
Nikita Singhania’s lawyer assured the court that the child would be presented within 30 minutes. The Supreme Court continued to hear the matter after this assurance.
The case revolves around a plea filed by Anju Devi, the grandmother of the child, who approached the court through a habeas corpus petition seeking custody of her four-year-old grandson.
During the earlier hearing on January 7, the Supreme Court had denied Anju Devi custody of the child, stating she was a “stranger to the child.”
In the ongoing hearing, it was revealed to the court that the child had stopped attending school in Haryana and is now living with his mother.
The case relates to the tragic death of Subhash, a 34-year-old engineer who was found hanging in his home in Bengaluru’s Munnekolalu area on December 9 last year.
Subhash reportedly left lengthy messages blaming his wife and in-laws for causing him emotional distress, which allegedly led him to take this extreme step.
The hearing in this sensitive matter is still underway, with the Supreme Court ensuring proper examination of all aspects to reach a fair resolution.
Background
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.
“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.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Atul Subhash Suicide
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