A 34-year-old young professional An AI Engineer Atul Subhash from Uttar Pradesh committed suicide allegedly due to harassment from his wife and her relatives on 9th December 2024. This incident has opened up discussions regarding mental health, issues related to marriage, and the societal issues men face in family disputes.
Candlelight March for the Justice
Atul’s supporters have started a vigil campaign which was carried out by Save Indian Family Foundation – an NGO focusing on men’s rights. The mourners conducted the vigil at Eco Space with many people carrying candles and photos of Atul seeking justice for him and for other men suffering under similar circumstances highlighting the need for reform.
Sucide Note to an NGO
Atul’s death sent his death note by his email to an NGO, stating his intention to end his life, which led to the police being called upon. Upon arrival at his flat in Marathahalli, Bengaluru, officers discovered him dead, with a sign on his chest that read “Justice is Due.”.
Atul’s brother, Bikaz Kumar has filed a complaint alleging that Nikita and her family were abetted to commit suicide. Bengaluru Police has registered a case and investigating the incident
Cases filed by Nikita against Atul
- Section 498A of the IPC: Cruelty by Husband or Relatives: Thus, the section deals with cruelty by a husband or his family on women. Nikita said that Atul and his family harassed her both mentally and physically for dowry. The maximum penalty in this case is a fine, and a 3 year term of imprisonment.
- Section 323 of the IPC: Voluntarily Causing Hurt: Nikita alleged that Atul beat her and inflicted bodily injuries on her. Section 323 talks about willingly hurting someone and the punishment for this crime is one year of imprisonment and/or one thousand rupees as a fine.
- Section 504 of the IPC: Intentional Insult with Intent to Provoke Breach of Peace: S.504 of the IPC pertains to intentional insult with intent to and having the likelihood of provoking someone to breach the peace. Nikita alleged that Atul insulted her and used Provocative abusive language as a means to cause her to cause a public disturbance. The punishment carries a maximum of two years, fine or both.
- Section 506 of the IPC: Criminal Intimidation: Nikita has partly made out a case under Section 506 of criminal intimidation since Atul threatened her that if she did not comply with his request, he would cause harm to her. These various penalties are enforced depending on how serious the threat involved is, it ranges from 2 to 7 years of imprisonment along with fines.
- Dowry Prohibition Act, 1965.: In Nikita’s complaint, it was also alleged that she was demanded dowry of ₹10 lakh. As the name suggests the Dowry Prohibition act forbids giving, taking or demanding dowry. Offenders can be sentenced to imprisonment of 6 months to 2 years and fined between 15,000 or the amount of the dowry, whichever is more.
Nikita filed these charges against Atul mainly for physical battery, mental harassment and illegal demands of dowry which to her appeared most cruel. These sections relate to the news coverage that the legal processes filed under such sections intended to pursue and explain.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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