A 34-year-old Bengaluru-based tech professional from Uttar Pradesh, identified as Atul Subhash, died by suicide on Monday, leaving behind a detailed account of alleged harassment by his wife and her family. The police have now booked four individuals, including his wife, for abetment of suicide.
The FIR, filed at the Marathahalli police station on Tuesday, names Subhash’s wife, Nikita Singhania; her mother, Nisha Singhania; her brother, Anurag Singhania and her uncle, Sushil Singhania. They have been charged under Section 108 (abetment of suicide) and Section 3(5) of the BNS, which establishes joint liability when multiple individuals act with common intent.
According to the complaint filed by Subhash’s brother, Bikas Kumar, the couple had married in 2019 and had a son together. The complaint alleges that following their separation, the accused filed false legal cases against Subhash, demanding Rs 3 crore as a settlement. It also claims that Nikita demanded Rs 30 lakh for allowing Subhash visitation rights to their four-year-old son.
Subhash reportedly endured prolonged mental and physical harassment, which culminated in his tragic death. His body was discovered hanging at his residence in the Manjunath Layout area of Marathahalli. A placard reading “Justice is due” was found in the room, and he left behind a 24-page death note detailing his alleged suffering.
In the death note and a video recording over 80 minutes long, Subhash recounted years of emotional distress stemming from his marital issues. The video, shared on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn, has since gone viral. In the recording, Subhash stated, “The money I earn is making my enemies stronger. That same money will be used to destroy me… The supply of value should be finished.”
Subhash requested that his wife and her family not be allowed near his body and asked his family to refrain from immersing his ashes until justice was served. If no action was taken against the accused, he urged his ashes to be discarded in a court gutter.
The death note also requested that custody of his son be granted to his parents, stating they could “provide better values.” He accused his wife’s family of repeatedly demanding large sums of money and using their child as leverage in legal and financial disputes.
The police have confirmed that a case of abetment of suicide has been registered based on the family’s complaint. “All allegations are being investigated and no arrests have been made yet,” said a senior officer.
Preliminary findings suggest Subhash faced significant marital discord, with his wife filing a case against him in Uttar Pradesh. Subhash reportedly emailed his death note to several individuals and shared it in a WhatsApp group associated with an NGO he worked with.
(If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, help is available. Call Sneha Foundation – 04424640050, Tele Manas – 14416 or Call, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ helpline – 02225521111)
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