The tragic death of Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old tech professional from Bengaluru, has left the nation grappling with difficult questions about harassment, justice, and the misuse of laws.
On December 9, Atul Subhash ended his life, leaving behind a 24-page suicide note and a video in which he accused his wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family of harassment, extortion, and filing false legal cases against him. His story has ignited a firestorm of conversations online, with hashtags like #JusticeForAtulSubhash and #MenToo trending on social media.
An innocent man has taken his life after harassment faced by the judiciary.
In the last part of his 1.5 hrs long video, he mentioned his last wishes before suicide.
Sorry brother, we couldn’t save you ?. Rest in peace ? #MenToo #JusticeIsDue
Source:… https://t.co/TLxtgknrzz pic.twitter.com/JMghE8Bm9V— StrugglesOfMen (@HRISHIKESH3390) December 9, 2024
Atul married Nikita in 2019, and the couple had a son together. However, their relationship reportedly soured over the years, leading to bitter disputes. According to Atul’s family, Nikita and her family demanded exorbitant sums of money, including Rs 3 crore to settle legal disputes and Rs 30 lakh for Atul to meet his four-year-old son. Despite paying Rs 2 lakh monthly for his son’s expenses, Atul claimed he was denied access to his child, who he felt was being used to extort more money, reported TOI.
In his heartbreaking note, Atul accused Nikita and her family of filing false cases against him, including allegations of domestic violence, dowry harassment, and even attempted murder.
He wrote about feeling humiliated and helpless during court hearings, where he alleged Nikita mocked him and told him to die by suicide. His note also pointed fingers at the legal system, alleging bias and corruption. Atul claimed that a judge ignored his side of the story and dismissed his concerns with the comment, “She’s your wife; this is normal.” These experiences left him feeling trapped and without hope.
Nikita Singhania and Jaunpur family court judge (Reeta Kaushik) forced #AtulSubhash to die and commit Suicide #mentoo #JusticeIsDue #JusticeForAtul pic.twitter.com/Ujn6vemeAj
— Kartik Vikram (@iamkartikvikram) December 10, 2024
Before taking the extreme step, Atul recorded a video in which he held up a sign reading “Justice is Due” and asked for custody of his son to be given to his parents. He also requested that his ashes not be immersed until justice was served, reported Business Standard.
Atul’s death has brought attention to the misuse of laws designed to protect women. Activists and legal experts have pointed out how such laws, when weaponized, can devastate lives. Why is there no mechanism to identify and penalize false accusations? Why is the legal system so slow to recognize the emotional and financial toll on men entangled in such disputes?
Atul’s family is now fighting for justice, demanding accountability not just from Nikita and her family but also from a legal system that they believe let him down. As the investigation unfolds, one can only hope this heartbreaking incident serves as a wake-up call for meaningful reforms.