Supreme Court Grants Custody of Late Techie Atul Subhash’s Son to Estranged Wife Nikita Singhania

“After a high-profile custody battle, the apex court ruled in favour of the child’s mother, dismissing the grandmother’s petition.”

January 20, 2025, New Delhi: The Supreme Court has granted custody of the four-year-old son of Atul Subhash, a Bengaluru techie who died by suicide in December, to his estranged wife, Nikita Singhania. The ruling came after a plea filed by Anju Devi, Mr. Subhash’s mother, seeking custody of her grandson.

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The verdict, delivered by Justices BV Nagarathna and SC Sharma, followed a brief interaction with the child via video link. The court emphasized that the boy had spent minimal time with his grandmother and should remain with his mother, considering his best interests.

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The case began when Ms. Devi approached the Supreme Court after Ms. Singhania and her family were accused of abetting Mr. Subhash’s death. Ms. Singhania, along with her mother and brother, were arrested on these charges but later released on bail.

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During an earlier hearing, Ms. Singhania informed the court that her son was enrolled in a boarding school in Faridabad, Haryana, but would now move with her to Bengaluru to comply with bail conditions.

Justice Nagarathna acknowledged that while the petition raised valid concerns, custody matters should be heard by a lower court with jurisdiction over family matters. “The child is practically a stranger to the petitioner,” Justice Nagarathna noted, referring to the grandmother.

Background

Atul Subhash and Nikita Singhania married in 2019, and their son was born in 2020. The couple’s relationship soured in 2021 after Ms. Singhania left their home and filed a case against Mr. Subhash and his family in 2022.

On December 9, 2024, Mr. Subhash was found dead in his Bengaluru apartment. He left behind an 81-minute video and a 24-page suicide note, accusing Ms. Singhania and her family of harassment and attempting to extort ₹3 crore from him.

The case sparked widespread debate about the misuse of laws meant to protect women from cruelty and their potential for weaponization.

The court’s decision has drawn mixed reactions, with some supporting the emphasis on the child’s welfare while others call for further investigation into Mr. Subhash’s allegations.

Tags:
Supreme Court custody ruling, Atul Subhash case, child custody battle India, Bengaluru techie suicide, Nikita Singhania case, family disputes in India, child welfare in custody cases, misuse of cruelty laws debate.