The tragic death of 34-year-old Bengaluru-based engineer, Atul Subhash, has shocked the nation and ignited a debate on the misuse of anti-dowry laws and the justice system’s failure to protect men. Atul, a senior IT executive, left behind a 24-page suicide note and a 90-minute-long video, detailing the harassment he allegedly faced from his estranged wife, Nikita Singhania, her family, and a corrupt family court judge.
In his notes, Subhash accused his wife and her relatives of extortion and emotional blackmail, including demanding ₹3 crore for a divorce settlement and ₹30 lakh to allow him to meet his son. Despite paying his wife ₹2 lakh and enduring physical and mental abuse, Subhash claimed the harassment continued, pushing him to the brink. He also accused a family court judge of corruption, alleging that the judge accepted bribes in front of an officer handling his case.
This disturbing case has sparked a larger conversation about the systemic biases in India’s legal system, where laws meant to protect women are often misused. Activists and legal experts have criticized the growing number of false dowry harassment cases, urging for reforms to ensure justice is served fairly for both men and women.
The incident highlights the mental toll such harassment can have, with Barkha Trehan, a men’s rights activist, emphasizing that men often suffer in silence due to the lack of support for them in such cases. The case has brought to the forefront the urgent need for legal reforms to prevent tragedies like Subhash’s from happening again.
Read Also;