Karnataka High Court Rejects Plea To Quash FIR Against Nikita Singhania In Suicide Case

On Monday, the Karnataka High Court rejected the plea to quash the FIR against Nikita Singhania in connection with the alleged suicide of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash. The court upheld the investigation into the charges of abetment to suicide, noting that the FIR presented sufficient grounds to proceed with the case.

The single bench, led by Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar, passed the order orally, expressing disapproval of the demand made by Singhania. “What more can the bench look into?” the court questioned, affirming that the prima facie evidence in the complaint justified proceeding with the investigation. The bench further inquired, “Why don’t you want the investigation to happen?”

The Case Of Atul Subhash’s Alleged Suicide

Atul Subhash, an employee of an automobile company in Bengaluru, committed suicide last month, citing alleged torture and demands by his wife, Nikita Singhania, for a Rs 3 crore divorce settlement. His family has accused Singhania and her relatives of harassment, which they claim contributed to his decision to take his own life.

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Subhash’s brother, Bikas Kumar, filed a police complaint on December 9, alleging that Singhania and her family demanded the hefty sum in exchange for a divorce settlement. He further claim that his brother taunt during court proceedings, with the implication that he either pay the amount or face tragic consequences.

Nikita Singhania’s Legal Defense

The counsel for Nikita Singhania challenged the FIR, asserting that no evidence had been presented to justify the charge of abetment to suicide. They argued that Subhash had not mentioned any specific actions by his wife or her family that led to his suicide. Furthermore, they contend that Singhania has the right to seek legal remedies and should not face accountability merely for lodging a complaint.

The court, however, disagreed, emphasizing that the complaint had sufficient grounds for the investigation to proceed.

Bail Granted To Nikita Singhania And Her Family

Earlier, on January 4, a Bengaluru court granted bail to Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha Singhania, and her brother-in-law Anurag Singhania. The police arrest the three following Subhash’s suicide and registered an FIR under Sections 108 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) on December 9.

The family of Atul Subhash has expressed their intent to challenge the bail order in the Karnataka High Court, citing concerns over the safety of Subhash’s child, who is currently under the custody of his paternal family.

Atul Subhash’s father, Pavan Kumar Modi, raised alarm about the potential threat to his grandson’s safety if Singhania were granted bail. Modi alleged that Singhania had exploited the family financially in the past and expressed fears that she might pose a danger to the child. “If she could drive my son to suicide, she could also harm the child,” he stated.

Modi also revealed that Singhania had repeatedly demanded large sums of money under the pretext of caring for the child. He has now sought custody of the child through the Supreme Court, citing the child’s safety as his primary concern.

Next Steps In The Case

The High Court has issued notices to the respondents in the case and directed them to file objections. Additionally, the court has instructed the prosecution to submit all materials gathered during the investigation. The legal proceedings are expected to continue as the case unfolds.