Samastipur (Bihar) [India], December 13 (HBTV): The father of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, who died by suicide, revealed that his son had been 'broken from inside' after multiple cases were filed against him and his family by his wife.

Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old deputy general manager at a private firm, died by suicide on Monday in his Bengaluru apartment. He left behind a 24-page suicide note accusing his wife and her relatives of harassment. In the note, Subhash also alleged that a judge had demanded Rs 5 lakh to 'settle' the case.

'My son used to say that there is a lot of corruption, but he will fight as he is on the path of truth... He was broken from inside, though he didn't tell anyone anything,' Subhash’s father, Pawan Kumar, told ANI.

Kumar, who resides in Bihar’s Samastipur, explained that Subhash’s wife began filing cases against the family in January 2021. 'She started filing cases since January 2021... My son thought she had left after Corona, and that their 1-year-old son would grow up a little at his maternal uncle's home. But then, she started filing cases against our entire family,' the father said.

Earlier, a four-member team of Bengaluru Police, including a woman officer, reached Kotwali in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, where Subhash’s in-laws reside. Kumar also alleged that the judge overseeing the case demanded Rs 5 lakh for a settlement. 'When they went ahead for mediation, it started from Rs 20,000 and then escalated to Rs 40,000. The judge said that if he (the deceased) wants a settlement, he should give Rs 5 lakh,' the father said.

Meanwhile, Subhash’s brother, Vikas, expressed shock at his brother's decision. 'We talked to him normally. We had no idea he had decided to take such a step. We never felt he was going to take such a step. I am in touch with a few of his friends, and even they didn’t know about his thoughts,' the brother said.

Vikas also claimed that false cases were filed against him and their family. 'False cases have been filed on me, and my parents, just like they were filed on my brother. Action should be taken against all those who mentally tortured my brother and filed false cases against him,' he said.

He further added that Atul Subhash had written to various leaders and institutions, including the President and the Supreme Court, explaining his situation in detail. 'If those emails have reached them, we hope action is taken and some laws, forums, or committees are created where men can go to seek justice... Laws and provisions made to empower women are today being misused,' the brother said.

On December 11, the Supreme Court expressed concern over the growing misuse of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which penalizes cruelty by husbands and their relatives against married women. While quashing a Section 498A case against a husband and his parents in a separate matter, Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh noted that the section had become a tool for personal vendettas by wives.

Atul Subhash died by suicide in the early hours of December 9 after alleging harassment by his wife and her family. In his suicide note, he wrote 'Justice is due' on every page. He also claimed that his wife had filed nine cases against him under various sections, including murder, sexual misconduct, harassment for money, domestic violence, and dowry.   

(ANI)