Aastha Pareek
The mother of Atul Subhash, a Bengaluru-based software engineer who tragically died by suicide, has moved to the Supreme Court seeking the custody of her grandson. The child is currently in the custody of Subhash’s estranged wife, Nikita Singhania. The case has been brought up to the Apex Court as Anju Singh v. State of Karnataka.
A Bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotishwar Singh heard the plea on December 20, directing the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Karnataka to respond to the petition. The Court has also instructed the authorities in these states to ascertain the whereabouts of the minor.
The legal battle spans multiple states, as Subhash had been living and working in Bengaluru, while Nikita resided in Gurugram, Haryana. Her mother and brother live in Uttar Pradesh, leading to all three states being party to the case. Subhash’s mother has alleged that her daughter-in-law has not disclosed the child’s location, prompting her to seek judicial intervention.
Subhash, aged 34, ended his life in Bengaluru, leaving behind a video and a detailed suicide note. In these, he accused Nikita Singhania and her family of harassment, which he claimed included filing false matrimonial cases. Subhash’s allegations sparked widespread public outrage, with demands for action against Nikita and her family.
Following the incident, an FIR was registered in Bengaluru against Nikita and her family members under Sections 108 (Abetment of Suicide) and 3(5) (Criminal Act with Common Intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Nikita, her mother, and her brother were arrested by the police and are currently in the judicial custody.
Case Name:- Anju Devi v. State of Karnataka
Diary Number:- 59653 of 2024
Bench:- Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotishwar.
Click here to access the order.