The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the custody of the minor son of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, who died by suicide, will remain with his estranged wife, Nikita Singhania. Singhania and her family are currently facing charges of abetting Subhash’s death.
A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and SC Sharma denied the custody plea of Subhash’s mother, Anju Devi, stating she was “virtually a stranger to the child”. Justice Nagarathna emphasised the lack of a bond between Anju Devi and her grandson, who is studying at a boarding school in Haryana.
Anju Devi argued against the child’s stay at a boarding school, expressing concerns over Singhania’s alleged involvement in Subhash’s death. However, the court highlighted that Singhania has not been found guilty, cautioning against basing decisions on allegations or media reports.
During the proceedings, the court interacted privately with the child and sought affidavits from the Haryana Government and Singhania on the child’s well-being.
Subhash, a Bengaluru resident originally from Uttar Pradesh, was found dead in his apartment on December 9, 2024. Married to Singhania since 2019, the couple had separated amid a flurry of legal disputes.
Before his death, Subhash left behind a 24-page note and an 81-minute video accusing his wife and her family of harassment. He also alleged bias by a family court judge in Uttar Pradesh, claiming favoritism toward his in-laws. Subhash was embroiled in multiple legal cases, including charges of attempt to murder, dowry harassment and unnatural sex, some involving his parents as co-accused.