The Bengaluru Police have registered an FIR against Nikita Singhania, the estranged wife of Bengaluru executive Atul Subhash, who died by suicide alleging mental harassment.

The case names four individuals, including Nikita, her mother Nisha Singhania, her uncle Sushil Singhania, and her brother Anurag Singhania. 

In his suicide note, Atul alleged he was driven to the extreme step due to Nikita’s demands for a maintenance amount of ₹2-4 lakh and her alleged use of their 4-year-old son during proceedings in a family court. The FIR has been lodged under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which prescribes a punishment of up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine for those convicted. 

This incident highlights the urgent need for reform in our legal system, which must ensure fairness and protect individuals from undue harassment. Cases like #AtulSubhash’s underscore the need for justice and sensitivity in handling family disputes.

The FIR was filed based on a complaint by Atul Subhash's brother, Bikas Kumar, who alleged that Atul faced relentless mocking and harassment from his wife and in-laws. In his suicide note, Atul likened his ordeal to a "legal genocide of men" and expressed his despair by stating that his ashes should be discarded in a gutter near the court if the accused were not held accountable.

Atul’s tragic death has reignited criticism of the Indian judicial system, which many perceive as skewed in favor of women in matrimonial disputes. His case has fueled the #MenToo movement on social media, drawing attention to the struggles of men allegedly exploited through the misuse of legal provisions.

In the same note, Atul also mentioned the judge presiding over his case, alleging that he was pressured to accept a "settlement," further questioning the impartiality of the judicial process in such matters.