Bengaluru:
The Karnataka High Court on Monday rejected the plea of ​​quashing of the FIR against wife Nikita Singhania in the alleged suicide case of Bengaluru engineer Atul Subhash. A single bench headed by Justice SR Krishna Kumar passed the order orally.
Subhash, an employee of an automobile company in Bengaluru, committed suicide due to alleged harassment by his wife Nikita Singhania and her demand of Rs 3 crore for the divorce settlement.
Rejecting the demand of Subhash’s wife, the bench said that there are sufficient reasons in the FIR for abetment to suicide. What else can the bench see?
The court asked Subhash’s wife, “Prima facie elements of crime have emerged in the complaint. In such a situation, why don’t you want investigation?”
Nikita Singhania’s lawyer told the court that in the complaint for registering the FIR, no concrete mention has been made about abetment to suicide. The court was also told that Atul Subhash had not mentioned any act committed by his wife and family members due to which he had to commit suicide.
The lawyer further argued that the petitioner has the right to legal aid and a case cannot be registered merely for the sake of filing a complaint against Atul Subhash.
Issuing notice to the defendants and directing them to file objections
The court issued notice to the defendants and directed them to file objections. The prosecution was also directed to deposit the material collected during the investigation.
Earlier on Saturday, Bengaluru City Civil Court granted bail to Atul Subhash’s wife Nikita Singhania, mother-in-law Nisha Singhania and brother-in-law Anurag Singhania. Atul Subhash had committed suicide last month after accusing his wife and in-laws of harassment.
Atul Subhash’s family has said that after receiving the order sheet, they will appeal against the decision in the Karnataka High Court.
Ponnanna, lawyer for AI engineer Atul Subhash, said, “We have not yet reviewed the court order. Whatever conditions have been imposed, we will look into them. There will be an opportunity to go before the appellate court and appeal against this order.” “If it happens, we’ll do it.”
Will analyze the bail order and consider further action – Subhash’s lawyer
Atul’s other lawyer Vinay Singh said, “The court has accepted his plea. We need to analyze the order before making any further statement. It is not appropriate to discuss the court proceedings here. His argument is based on technical grounds. But our argument was based on both factual and technical aspects.”
Actually, Subhash’s wife and in-laws were arrested by Bengaluru Police last month. Based on the complaint of the deceased’s brother, a case has been registered against Subhash’s estranged wife Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha Singhania and brother Anurag Singhania under section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Code of Justice (BNS).
During police interrogation, Nikita claimed that it was Atul who used to harass her. He had approached the Bengaluru sessions court for bail in the case.
Subhash, 34, a deputy general manager in a private company, committed suicide in his Bengaluru apartment on December 9. He has left a 24-page note, in which he has accused his wife and her family of harassment.
Earlier in December, Allahabad High Court had granted anticipatory bail to Nikita Singhania’s uncle Sushil Singhania, who is also involved in this case.
Subhash’s brother lodged a complaint of abetment to suicide
Subhash’s brother Bikash Kumar had filed a police complaint at Marathahalli police in Bengaluru accusing him of abetting suicide.
Bikash Kumar alleged in the complaint that the accused had filed false cases against his brother (Atul Subhash) and demanded Rs 3 crore to settle the case. He had also alleged that during the proceedings his brother was taunted in the court that he would either have to pay Rs 3 crore or die by suicide.
Her in-laws had alleged that Subhash had demanded huge dowry from their family, due to which her father died.
Meanwhile, Atul Subhash’s father Pawan Kumar Modi had said that the family is worried about the safety of his grandson. He said, “Atul’s wife can attack the child and put his life in danger. If she can force my son to commit suicide, she can do the same with the child.”
My grandson was an ATM for Subhash’s wife – Subhash’s father
Atul’s father said, “My grandson was an ATM for her. She took the money on the pretext of taking care of him. She approached the High Court demanding Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000. She went to appeal for Rs 80,000. Even after this, she She kept demanding more money. Therefore, we have approached the Supreme Court for the custody of the child, because he is safe with us.”
