December 12, 2024: Techie’s Emotional Letter to Son Before Suicide Sparks Debate Over Family Law and Harassment Allegations
Bengaluru: In a tragic 24-page suicide note, 34-year-old techie Atul Subhash addressed a deeply emotional and controversial letter to his four-year-old son, offering advice, regrets, and revelations about the custody battle and harassment allegations that pushed him to take his life. Subhash, who was found dead at his Bengaluru home on Monday, accused his estranged wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family of harassment, extortion, and using their son as a tool in their bitter separation.
A Father’s Pain and Regret
In the letter, Subhash expressed his heartbreak over being unable to meet his son since 2021, when his wife left their home with the child. He claimed his wife demanded ₹30 lakh in exchange for visitation rights. Subhash described how the legal and societal pressures turned his love for his son into a source of unbearable pain.
“When I first saw you, I thought I could give my life for you any day. But sadly, I am giving my life because of you. You feel like a blackmail tool using which I will be extorted more and more,” Subhash wrote.
In his note, he criticized a system he described as biased against fathers, accusing it of enabling his wife’s alleged demands for increasing maintenance payments—from ₹80,000 to ₹2 lakh per month.
Bitterness Toward Systemic Failures
Subhash expressed his frustration with societal and legal norms that, he claimed, prioritize financial exploitation over genuine parental bonds. He lamented, “It is sad that this shameless system can make a child a burden and liability to his father. I have met many alienated fathers; most speak of similar feelings when being honest.”
Anguish, Criticism, and Controversy
The letter also contained statements many would find problematic, shaped by the distress of his experiences. Subhash criticized what he described as a distorted version of women’s empowerment, calling it a “rogue movement” and expressing resentment against societal expectations.
“I used to think women empowerment was good and benign, like most educated men. But this idiotic thing is destroying everything of value. It must end,” he wrote.
Subhash’s anguish also spilled into advice for his son, urging him to distrust societal systems and live on his own terms. “Don’t trust society. Don’t trust the system. Both want to feed off you. If my blood wins in you, you shall live, love, and fight with all your heart.”
A Life Overshadowed by Financial Demands
Subhash claimed his wife’s family repeatedly demanded large sums of money, a claim echoed by his brother Bikas Kumar, who filed an abetment to suicide complaint against Nikita and her family. Bikas alleged that Nikita used their son to coerce Subhash into financial concessions.
In his letter, Subhash mentioned how he had once saved for his son’s future, writing, “I often laugh when I remember that I started saving money for a car for you when you go to college. Silly me.”
A System Under Scrutiny
Subhash’s death has sparked debates over the legal system’s treatment of marital disputes and custody battles. Men’s rights advocates argue the case highlights the need for reforms to protect fathers from alienation and financial exploitation.
Police have registered an abetment to suicide case against Nikita, her mother Nisha Singhania, brother Anurag Singhania, and uncle Sushil Singhania. Investigations are underway, with Bengaluru police stating that Subhash’s wife and her family allegedly harassed him and demanded money to settle disputes.
In his final words, Subhash declared his sacrifice as a way to protect his family from further harassment: “Now, with me gone, there won’t be any money, and there won’t be any reason to harass my old parents and brother. I may have destroyed my body, but I’ve saved everything I believe in.”
A Tragedy That Demands Reflection
This devastating incident has reignited calls for balanced laws that protect the rights of both parents and prevent the misuse of legal frameworks in marital disputes. Subhash’s case is a grim reminder of the toll that unresolved conflicts and systemic gaps can take on individuals and families alike.
