Bengaluru police have issued a notice to the wife of Atul Subhash, a techie who died by suicide earlier this week, asking her to provide a statement within three days. Nikita Singhania’s mother and brother were also instructed to record their statements. The notice was delivered to Nikita’s residence in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Atul Subhash, employed by a private firm in Bengaluru, ended his life on Monday, citing harassment from his wife and her family. In his 24-page suicide note, he detailed emotional turmoil caused by marital issues and multiple legal cases filed by his wife.
A case of abetment of suicide has been filed against Nikita and her family based on a complaint from Atul’s brother. Nikita, who works at Accenture, has yet to respond to the allegations.
The police have given the accused until Monday to record their statements. Failure to comply may result in their arrest, depending on the evidence collected.
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) law stipulates up to 10 years’ imprisonment for abetment of suicide, while the older IPC law set a maximum of 7 years.
To avoid arrest, the accused may seek anticipatory bail from the court. Since the incident occurred in Karnataka, the family must approach a court in the state for this.
The accused can either cooperate with the police investigation or pursue legal avenues to prevent arrest. However, police may issue an arrest warrant after interrogation based on their findings.
In the wake of public outrage, it has also been revealed that Nikita filed a police complaint in 2022, accusing Atul of dowry harassment and assault. She alleged that her in-laws demanded an additional Rs 10 lakh as dowry and that Atul mistreated her, turning their relationship “into something beastly,” PTI reported.
