Techie ends life over 'Rs 3cr demand' by wife, in-laws

A Bengaluru automobile executive died by suicide amid a contentious divorce and child custody battle. His brother alleges the deceased's wife and in-laws demanded exorbitant sums for case withdrawal and visitation rights, driving him to the extreme step. Police have registered an abetment to suicide case based on a suicide note and video detailing the alleged harassment.

featured-image

Subhash Atul BENGALURU: The suicide of a Bengaluru-based 34-year-old automobile company executive amid a bitter legal battle over divorce, child custody and estranged wife's Rs 3.3 crore demand has ignited an intense debate on men's rights and mental health. A police complaint filed by his brother Bikas Kumar alleged that his wife and in-laws demanded Rs 3 crore to withdraw police cases against him and Rs 30 lakh to grant him visitation rights to see his son.

Subhash Atul was found dead in his apartment in Marathahalli area early Monday, leaving behind a detailed suicide note and a video outlining the alleged harassment he faced from his wife Nikita Singhania and her family. Based on these allegations, police have registered a case of abetment to suicide against Nikita, her mother Nisha, brother Anurag, and uncle Sushil Singhania. "My brother was mentally and physically exhausted ever since the court battle started.



Every time he attended the court hearing, he was mocked by his in-laws and told to die if he could not pay the money or pay for the visitation rights. These drove him to take the extreme step," Bikas said. Atul's 24-page suicide note and recorded video, which have since gone viral, accuse his in-laws of filing eight "false" police complaints and manipulating the legal system.

He also charged a family court judge in UP, where the custody and divorce hearings were under way, with bias in favour of his in-laws. "It is better for me to end my life as the money that I am earning is only making my enemies stronger as I have to pay them..

. This cycle will keep continuing. With my own money that I pay as taxes, the courts and the police system will harass both me and my family members along with other people.

The supply of the value should be cut. Anyway, they (in-laws) have been suggesting me to commit suicide," Atul said in the note. He also urged authorities not to allow his in-laws near his body and requested that his last rites not be performed until his "harassers" are brought to justice.

"Despite all these, if the accused are allowed to go scot-free, just dump my ashes into a gutter near the court. This way, I can know how life is valued in this country," he wrote. In his final message, Atul apologised to his parents for being unable to care for them in their old age.

.