Driven to Despair: Atul Subhash’s Tragic Suicide Exposes How Dowry Laws Are Used As Weapons

December 11, 2024: Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old Bengaluru resident, was found dead in his home on Monday morning, leaving behind a 24-page suicide note and a placard that read "justice is due." His death has sparked allegations of extortion and harassment by his estranged wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family, and raised questions about systemic biases in the legal process.

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Atul’s grieving parents have revealed that their son endured immense stress, traveling between Bengaluru and Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, at least 40 times for court hearings. “They tortured my son and us. But he took it all upon himself and didn’t let us suffer. He kept burning inside,” said his mother. His father added, “He told us the court didn’t follow the law or guidelines set by higher courts. He faced so many charges, and every time one case ended, another would follow.”

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In an 81-minute video, Atul detailed the ordeal he faced since his marriage to Nikita in 2019. The couple had a son in 2020, but tensions escalated when his wife left him in 2021. According to Atul, her family repeatedly demanded large sums of money, which he refused to pay. In 2022, Nikita allegedly filed false cases against him and his family, including charges of murder and unnatural sex. Atul claimed these accusations were baseless, pointing out contradictions in her testimony regarding her father’s death.

Atul also accused the judiciary of corruption, stating that a judge demanded ₹5 lakh to settle the case. He further alleged that his wife mocked him during a court hearing, saying, “Why don’t you [die by suicide]?”—a remark that was met with laughter in court, according to Atul.

In his suicide note, Atul expressed frustration with a legal system he believed favored his harassers. “The more I work hard, the more my family is harassed and extorted. Now, with me gone, there won’t be any money, and there won’t be a reason to harass my parents and brother,” he wrote.

Atul’s brother, Bikas Kumar, has filed an abetment to suicide case against Nikita, her mother Nisha Singhania, brother Anurag Singhania, and uncle Sushil Singhania. He has also called for an investigation into the judge named in Atul’s suicide note. “Every law in India is for women, not for men. My brother fought against this but ultimately gave up,” Bikas said.

Friends and family have described Atul as resilient but overwhelmed by harassment. His friend Jackson remarked, “This wasn’t a decision born out of depression. It was a statement against the system’s bias.”

The Bengaluru police have launched an investigation and plan to question Nikita and her family in Jaunpur. Meanwhile, the Singhania family has declined to comment, referring inquiries to their lawyer.

Atul’s tragic story has reignited debates around gender bias in legal cases and the need for systemic reform to address grievances fairly and impartially.

Tags:

• Atul Subhash
• Suicide Case
• Bengaluru Tragedy
• Harassment Allegations
• Legal System Bias
• Dowry Laws
• Men’s Rights
• Justice for Atul
• Court Corruption
• Family Struggles