Bengaluru AI Engineer Suicide Case: Nikita Singhania and Family Granted Bail

Bengaluru AI Engineer Suicide Case:  In the Bengaluru suicide case of AI engineer Atul Subhash, the City Civil Court has granted bail to his wife Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha Singhania, and brother Anurag Singhania. The three were earlier arrested from Gurugram and Prayagraj.

Background of the Case

Atul Subhash’s suicide has sparked widespread attention due to a 27-page suicide note and a video left behind by him. The engineer accused his wife and in-laws of harassment, prompting police to file charges under:

Section 108 IPC: Abetment of suicide.
Section 3(5) IPC: Collective liability when multiple individuals conspire for a common crime.

Legal Proceedings

Following their arrest, Nikita, Nisha, and Anurag were placed under judicial custody. They later applied for bail, which was granted by the court. The Supreme Court's prior ruling, which emphasizes the need for direct evidence linking individuals to the act of suicide, plays a critical role in such cases.

Key Details from Atul’s Evidence

Atul recorded a suicide video and left behind a list of 32 tasks completed before his death.
He mentioned an incident in court where Nikita allegedly told him, "Why don’t you commit suicide?" This statement, made two years ago, might not hold strong legal weight.

Supreme Court’s Stand on Abetment of Suicide

The Supreme Court has ruled that proving abetment requires direct evidence of the accused's involvement at the time of the suicide. In Atul’s case, his records suggest no immediate link to his in-laws, potentially weakening the charges against them under Section 306 IPC.

Atul’s Life Before the Incident

Atul and Nikita had been living separately for three years, meeting only during court proceedings. Their strained relationship adds complexity to the case, but the absence of direct evidence may lead to further relief for Nikita and her family.