Overview

• Atul Subhash, a Bengaluru techie, died by suicide in December 2024, alleging harassment and extortion by his estranged wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family.
• The Supreme Court denied Anju Devi, Atul's mother, custody of her four-year-old grandson, stating that the child is unfamiliar with her and emphasizing the mother's legal custody rights.
• Nikita Singhania, currently out on bail in an abetment to suicide case, informed the court that the child was previously in a Faridabad boarding school and will now reside with her in Bengaluru as per her bail conditions.
• The court directed that the child be produced in court for the next hearing on January 20 and advised Anju Devi to pursue guardianship claims through proper legal channels.
• Atul Subhash's death and detailed suicide note have reignited debates about the misuse of laws designed to protect women and the challenges men face in domestic disputes.