Atul Subhash Suicide: How one phone call led cops to key accused Nikita Singhania, family

Nikita Singhania, Subhash's estranged wife, was detained in Gurugram, while her mother and brother were nabbed in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj.

The prime accused in Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash's suicide case, Nikita Singhania, reportedly changed locations daily to evade arrest and sought bail, according to police sources. The three key accused - Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha Singhania, and her brother Anurag Singhania - were arrested by Bengaluru police and sent to 14-day judicial custody on Sunday.

Nikita Singhania, Subhash's estranged wife, was detained in Gurugram, while her mother and brother were nabbed in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. According to the police, the accused had locked their homes after hearing of their arrival, states an IANS report. The police had pasted notices on their homes, asking them to appear within three days.

While Nikita had relocated to a PG accommodation in Gurugram, her mother, Nisha Singhania, and brother, Anurag Singhania, sought refuge in Jhusi town in Prayagraj. The trio maintained communication with relatives via WhatsApp calls. The special teams of cops had also compiled a list of close relatives and friends believed to be in contact with the accused, though tracking them was challenging due to calls being made through WhatsApp.

Nikita, however, made a mistake when she called a close relative, leading the police to trace the call and track her down in Gurugram’s Rail Vihar. Following her detention, police made her place a call to her mother, which enabled them to locate Nisha and Anurag in Jhusi, resulting in their arrest, states the IANS report. Police are still on the lookout for Sushil Singhania, the fourth accused, who remains at large.

The authorities, according to the report, were cautious during the flight to Bengaluru, ensuring Nikita’s identity remained concealed from other passengers. The police wanted to avoid any public attention given the widespread outrage over Atul Subhash’s death. After arriving in Bengaluru, Nikita, Nisha, and Anurag underwent medical examinations before being presented to the magistrate and sent to judicial custody for two weeks.

The case arises from the complaint filed by Subhash's brother, Bikas Kumar, accusing the family of abetting the 34-year-old techie's suicide. Kumar claims his brother was subjected to brutal harassment by Nikita and her family, including a demand for a Rs 3 crore settlement for a divorce.

Subhash allegedly died by suicide on December 9, leaving behind a 90-minute video and a 40-page death note outlining the harassment he faced from his wife and her family. According to preliminary investigations, he had planned his suicide at least 15 days in advance, conducting online searches related to legal matters and drafting his death note three days before his death.

Nikita, in her defense, has denied any harassment of Subhash and claimed she had been living separately from him for three years. Meanwhile, Subhash's brother Kumar has expressed his desire to gain custody of Atul and Nikita’s child.