The Karnataka High Court, on January 1, directed a Bengaluru Sessions Court to decide by January 4 the interim bail plea filed by Nikita Singhania, wife of Atul Subhash, a techie who died by suicide last month, alleging harassment by his estranged wife and her family.

A bench led by Justice Hemant Chandangoudar also instructed Subhash’s father, Bikas Kumar Modi, to inform the Supreme Court about the petition filed by the deceased’s family seeking custody of their grandson.

The High Court issued this interim order while hearing Singhania’s plea challenging her arrest and seeking interim bail. Her counsel argued that the arrest was illegal as she had not been provided with the grounds for her detention. The lawyer also requested bail to enable Singhania to appear before the Supreme Court, where her mother-in-law has filed a habeas corpus petition concerning her child’s custody.

The counsel contended that without bail, Singhania would miss the apex court proceedings, turning the habeas corpus petition into a de facto custody battle, potentially decided in her absence.

The High Court deferred further hearing to January 6, noting that the Sessions Court was set to hear Singhania’s bail plea on January 4.