The Bengaluru Police have registered an FIR against the estranged wife of Atul Subhash, the Bengaluru executive who killed himself alleging mental harassment. Atul Subhash in Bangalore, a case was filed against 4 people, including his wife. Subhash in his suicide note mentioned he was forced to take the extreme step because his wife Nikita Singhania, who was allegedly demanding maintenance of Rs 2 to 4 lakh, used their 4-year-old son in a family court.
The FIR was registered against his estranged wife Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha Singhania, Nisha's brother Anurag Singhania, and her uncle Sushil Singhania. The FIR was registered under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The suspects, if convicted, can be punished with up to 10 years in prison and a fine.
The FIR was registered over a complaint by Atul Subhash's brother Bikas Kumar. He alleged that Atul was constantly mocked and harassed by his wife and in-laws. Atul, in his suicide note, compared his situation to a "legal genocide of men". He asked for his ashes to be dumped in a gutter near the court if the accused (his wife and in-laws) were not punished.
Atul's suicide sparked widespread criticism of the Indian judicial system, which is perceived as being heavily biased towards women in such cases. The suicide gave impetus to the #MenToo movement on social media highlighting the plight of men being exploited by their wives and in-laws with the threat of false legal action.
In his suicide note, Atul Subhash also named the judge who heard his case and asked him to go for a "settlement".