Bengaluru:

The accused wife should not be allowed to use the child as a tool to get bail in the court, said Akash Jindal, counsel for Atul Subhash, an automobile company employee, who committed suicide alleging his wife demanded Rs 3 crore for divorce settlement.

The bail matter of the accused wife of Atul Subhash is slated to be heard on January 4 in the Bengaluru court. The bail application from the accused Nikita Singhania was registered on Monday and the counsel for her and other accused argued how and why the bail should not be granted to the accused persons in the case.

The counsel for the Atul Subhash family further stated, “The criminal nature is accumulating to this procedure and she can’t take advantage of the child and we have sought total custody of the child.”

“Our stand was that the crime, which they have committed is very heinous, additionally we have filed a habeas corpus petition before the Supreme Court where the court has passed directions to the three states UP, Karnataka and Haryana for ascertaining the whereabouts of the kid and once the child is found, accordingly will pass directions for considering the custody of the kid,” he said.

“Why the 4-year-old child was staying away from his mother and he was in the hostel? The grandparents are worried about the grandkid,” he said.

Pavan Kumar Modi, the father of Atul Subhash, stated that the family is worried about the safety of Atul’s child. If the court grants bail to Atul’s wife, she can attack the child and endanger his life. “If she can drive my son to commit suicide, she can also do the same to the kid as well,” he added.

“My grandson was ATM to her. She got money on the pretext of taking care of him. She approached the High Court demanding Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000. She went on to appeal for Rs 80,000. Even after this, she went on demanding more money. Hence, we have approached the Supreme Court for the custody of the child as he is safe with us,” he stated.

Bikas Kumar, brother of Atul Subhash, stated that the family is happy about the investigation by the police department. “The police supported us and we have fulfilled their requirements and they are carrying out the investigation. We have to get custody of the child and we have informed our advocate about this. The matter is before the Supreme Court,” he added.

When asked about the child’s whereabouts, he said that they do not know about the whereabouts of Atul’s son. “We are waiting for the January 7 hearing in the Supreme Court in this regard,” he stated.

Subhash, who was working with an automobile company in Bengaluru, allegedly committed suicide as a demand of Rs 3 crore was made for a divorce settlement. He ended his life at his apartment in the early hours of December 9, leaving behind a 90-minute video and a 40-page death note, explaining how harassment by his wife Nikita Singhania and her family forced him to take the extreme step.

Three accused in Atul Subhash’s suicide case — his wife, her mother and brother — who were arrested by Bengaluru Police, were sent to 14-day judicial custody.

The police registered an FIR against the accused persons under Sections 108, 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) on December 9. Bikas Kumar had lodged a police complaint alleging abetment to suicide with the Marathahalli police in Bengaluru.

Bikas Kumar alleged in the complaint that false cases were lodged against his brother (Atul) by the accused, demanding Rs 3 crore to settle the case. He had also alleged that his brother was taunted in the court during the proceedings that he had to either give Rs 3 crore or commit suicide.

Nikita’s family had alleged that the Atul Subhash demanded a hefty dowry from her family which resulted in the death of her father.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

As the suicide of a Bengaluru techie due to alleged harassment by his estranged wife and her family sparked a massive outcry, a similar case of torture and intimidation had taken place in Delhi, where a man died by suicide reportedly after he was falsely implicated in rape and dowry cases in 2017.

A written complaint addressed to then Sarita Vihar Police Station in-charge and a suicide note purportedly written by Arvind Bharti claimed his wife, Richa, wrongly accused him and his family of various acts, and harassed them with false cases even after their divorce.

Arvind Bharti, a resident of Yamuna Vihar, said he was “blackmailed and tortured day and night” by Richa, and that she was solely responsible for his death. He also said he had little hope from the police in the matter.

NDTV has seen copies of the written police complaint and the purported suicide note, both of which are written in Hindi. While the complaint letter was written a day before Bharti’s death, it is not clear when it was submitted to the police. 

Bharti, who worked as a physiotherapist before he joined a computer firm, died by suicide on December 15, 2017. Richa was arrested following his death and later granted bail. The trial in the case is underway.

Complaint Letter To Police

In his six-page letter to Sarita Vihar Police, Bharti explained how his wife pushed him to take the extreme step. He said he and Richa had a love marriage in 2008 but her behaviour towards him and his family changed drastically after that

“She used to register false police complaints, due to which we stayed together only for a few days. She later filed a false dowry case against me. I was discharged in the case by a Delhi court in 2013,” Bharti said. 

He said the couple eventually parted ways in 2016 but the alleged harassment still did not stop. Richa often followed Bharti to his office and his coaching institute to insult him and her actions also cost him his job, he claimed.

Bharti also alleged that his former wife once lodged a false case of rape against him. “The police physically and mentally tortured me and refused to register my complaint (against her). A compromise was reached and they sent me to Richa’s house where her family stripped me and locked me in a room. I was neither given any water to drink nor food to eat,” he said. 

Bharti said Richa filed a fresh rape case against him when his brother, Vipin, arrived with the police to rescue him days later.

Bharti alleged Richa often pressured him with her demands for money. “… I cannot even complain to anyone because I know that another false case will be filed against me,” he said. 

He said on one occasion, Richa told him, “You haven’t been able to do anything to me. Even the police and the Human Rights (Commission) have not accepted your and your father’s complaint”. 

No Faith In Police

Bharti alleged it was easy for Richa to blackmail and threaten him since her false complaints were always registered. 

He alleged that, on one occasion, Richa forcibly took away his bag with his office laptop, wallet, his bike documents, money and a company’s invoice with a cheque of Rs 32 lakh. 

“I am listening to Richa for one last time and killing myself. Otherwise, I shall die this way everyday,” he added. 

Suicide Note

In the four-page note, Bharti said he was writing his “last letter” and urged his family to not mourn his death. He provided details of the items that were reportedly forcibly taken away by Richa, and of money that he owed to some of his friends. 

He also urged his family to move on with their lives. “God will punish her (Richa),” he said.

He continued: “I used to suffer day and night and I knew I would have to take this extreme step one day or the other… I am very tired and I cannot suffer for another second. Please do not take action against Richa… I will no longer be alive and your life might also get spoiled.” 

‘Miss Him Even Today’

Arvind’s mother said she misses her son. “I do not hang Arvind’s photo on the wall because I miss him even today. His former wife was arrested and later released on bail. The matter is still in court,” she said.

Richa could not be reached for comment.