Nikita Singhania, estranged spouse of 34-year-old tech professional Atul Subhash, managed to avoid arrest for several days by frequently relocating, using WhatsApp for communication and continuously applying for anticipatory bail after Atul’s family accused her of abetting his suicide.
However, her attempt to stay undetected was thwarted when she inadvertently made a phone call to a relative, leading Bengaluru police to track her to a PG accommodation in Gurugram. Along with Nikita, her mother Nisha Singhania and brother Anurag Singhania were arrested in Prayagraj, while her uncle, Sushil Singhania, remains on the run. The four have been remanded to judicial custody for two weeks.
Atul Subhash was found dead at his Bengaluru residence last Monday, leading to the filing of a suicide abetment case by his brother, Bikas Kumar. The family is now seeking custody of Atul and Nikita’s child.
After the case was filed, the Singhania family fled their home in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh. Bengaluru police placed notices at their residence and monitored the family’s relatives. Despite their efforts to stay hidden, the suspects only communicated via WhatsApp, complicating the investigation. Meanwhile, Nikita and her family sought anticipatory bail in the Allahabad High Court.
The breakthrough came when Nikita accidentally called a relative, allowing authorities to pinpoint her location in Gurugram. Following her arrest, the police instructed her to contact her mother, which led them to track Nisha and Anurag to Jhusi, Prayagraj, where they were taken into custody. Atul’s four-year-old son was temporarily placed with relatives.
The police faced a challenge in keeping Nikita’s identity concealed during her journey to Bengaluru. They opted for a late-night flight to avoid public scrutiny and any potential backlash. Upon arrival, the trio was subjected to medical examinations and then presented before a magistrate before being sent to prison.
During her questioning, Nikita denied any involvement in Atul’s alleged mistreatment, claiming that she was the one being harassed. She also stated that if money had been her motive, she would not have left their home. Atul, however, had accused Nikita and her family in his suicide note and an 80-minute video of extorting Rs 3 crore by filing false cruelty and dowry harassment charges.
The initial investigation revealed that Atul had been planning his suicide for approximately 15 days before his death. He had searched for legal advice online and wrote his suicide note three days before taking the drastic step.
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