Supreme Court: The Division Bench of B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, JJ., on 20-1-2025, allowed deceased Atul Subhash’s wife to retain the custody of their child, thereby dismissing the plea filed by the child’s paternal grandmother.
Atul Subhash, a software engineer, had committed suicide in leaving behind an elaborate suicide note and a video blaming his estranged wife and her family of harassing him and filing false cases against him, driving him to take his life.
Atul Subhash’ mother, henceforth, approached the Supreme Court seeking custody of her four-year-old grandson filing a habeas corpus petition. The petition claimed that neither Subhash’s estranged wife, nor her family members had disclosed the child’s whereabouts.
Atul Subhash’s estranged wife and her mother and brother were arrested for abetting the suicide; however, they were later granted bail.
In December 2024, the Court had sought the responses of States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Karnataka. It had also directed the States to ascertain the whereabouts of the minor child.
Source: Press
