Supreme Court: Techie Atul Subhash's son to stay with his mother Nikita Singhania
PTC Web Desk: The Supreme Court has ruled that the custody of a four-year-old boy, son of late Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, who died by suicide in December, will remain with his mother, Nikita Singhania. The decision came amidst allegations against Nikita Singhania for harassment, which the deceased had cited in his suicide note.
The Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice SC Sharma delivered the verdict on Monday, following a habeas corpus plea filed by the child’s paternal grandmother, Anju Devi. The court interacted with the boy via a secure video link to ensure his identity remained protected.
During the hearing, the petitioner requested additional time to file a detailed affidavit. However, Justice Nagarathna rejected the plea, emphasising the urgency of the case. “This is a habeas corpus petition. We want to see the child. Produce the child. The court will resume after some time,” the Judge said.
After a 45-minute recess, the boy appeared on video, and the proceedings continued offline to maintain privacy.
Earlier this month, Nikita Singhania informed the court that her son was enrolled in a boarding school in Faridabad, Haryana. She also stated that she would withdraw him to accompany her to Bengaluru, as required by her bail conditions.
The child’s custody became a contentious issue following the tragic death of Subhash. He had accused Nikita Singhania and her family, including her mother and brother, of harassment and extortion. All three were charged with abetment of suicide but were later granted bail.
In her petition, Anju Devi alleged that Singhania and her family had concealed the boy’s location. Although Nikita Singhania claimed the child was staying with a relative, conflicting statements led the court to seek clarification from the governments of Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.
While the court acknowledged the petitioner’s concerns, it noted that the boy had spent limited time with his grandmother. “The child is a stranger to the petitioner,” Justice Nagarathna remarked. The court also directed that the custody dispute be addressed in an appropriate lower court.
Subhash and Nikita Singhania were married in 2019 and welcomed their son in 2020. However, their relationship turned bitter, with Nikita leaving the marital home in 2021 and filing a case against Subhash and his family the following year.
On December 9, 2024, Subhash was found dead in his Bengaluru apartment. In a detailed 81-minute video and a 24-page suicide note, he accused his wife and her family of filing false cases and demanding Rs 3 crore. He also criticised the legal system, claiming it was biased against men in such disputes.
- With inputs from agencies
