In the suicide case of artificial intelligence engineer Atul Subhash, the Allahabad High Court on Monday granted Sushil Singhania, Nikita Singhania’s uncle, anticipatory release. When Atul’s wife Nikita Singhania and his in-laws petitioned for anticipatory bail, Justice Ashutosh Srivastava issued the decision.
According to a Bengaluru Police official, Nikita Singhania was detained in Gurugram, Haryana, while her brother Anurag Singhania and mother Nisha Singhania were taken from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, for aiding and abetting Subhash’s suicide. According to him, they were taken into prison on Saturday morning, taken to Bengaluru, and placed under 14 days of judicial custody after appearing in a local court.
Senior attorney Manish Tiwary initially argued in the Allahabad High Court that the current anticipatory bail application is being filed on behalf of applicant Sushil Singhania alone, since the deceased’s wife, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law had already been taken into custody by the Bengaluru City Police.
It was contended that the arrests were made based on a video that went viral online and an apparent suicide note. It was asserted that Sushil Singhania is facing the highest level of media trial. Additionally, it was stated that Sushil Singhania is 69 years old and suffers from a chronic illness. He is virtually incapacitated and there is no question of him abetting the suicide, it was further submitted.
Additionally, it was stated that there is a difference between harassment and abetment, and that if the suicide note is taken at its value, the accusations made would only be considered harassment because they implicate the deceased in fictitious cases and demand large quantities of money. In any event, it was maintained that the crime of suicide under Section 108, 3(5) of the BNS could not be considered proven.
Additionally, it has been argued that Sushil Singhania should be given protection for a reasonable amount of time so that he can present his version to the court and the relevant authorities and use the legal remedies available to him before the Karnataka state court where the FIR originates.
After hearing the counsels for the parties, the court observed, “Considering the above, the court is of the opinion that applicant Sushil Singhania is entitled to get the privilege of pre-arrest (Transit) Anticipatory.” “Accordingly, it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant in connection with the case crime no. 0682 of 2024 under Section 108, 3(5) of the BNS, Police Station Marathahalli, Bangaluru City, he shall be released on anticipatory bail in the aforesaid case till the submission of police report, if any under section 173 (2) CrPC on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Magistrate/Court concerned,” the court said.
The court also set some requirements, such as the applicant’s willingness to be questioned by a police officer whenever necessary. He may not directly or indirectly induce, threaten, or promise anyone who knows the case’s facts in order to prevent them from telling the court or any police office about them, and he must not leave India without the court’s prior consent. According to the court, the petitioner must submit his passport at the relevant SSP or SP if he has one.
