A 34-year-old tech professional, Atul Subhash, died by suicide at his Bengaluru residence, leaving behind a 24-page note in which he blamed his wife and her family for harassment. The incident has taken social media by storm, with many voicing concerns about perceived injustices against men.
The victim, in a recorded video, expressed his anguish, stating that he had resolved to end his life at an age when he was expected to be a pillar of support for his parents.
A note left behind by the techie who had moved to Bengaluru from North India alleged he was struggling with immense pressure from his wife, her family, and multiple legal cases filed against him. The cases included charges of attempted murder, sexual misconduct, and dowry-related offenses. The legal battles, requiring him to travel frequently between Bengaluru and Uttar Pradesh for court hearings, had taken a heavy toll on him, both mentally and financially.
Following widespread outrage on social media over his death, an FIR has been filed against his wife and relatives following a complaint by his brother, Bikas Kumar. Kumar said that laws in India are biased in favour “of women, not men.”
The Ministry of Law and Social Justice has asked family courts to be impartial. In a statement the ministry said that “family courts are a dedicated platform for resolving disputes within families, ensuring that issues related to marriage, child custody, and inheritance are handled with care, sensitivity, and without the conventional formal court style.
“They (courts) focus on timely and impartial solutions, while also promoting reconciliation to help restore relationships within families,” the ministry’s statement added.
Subhash's body was found hanging at his residence in Manjunath Layout area. A placard reading "Justice is due" was found in the room where he ended his life.
In the video, which has now gone viral on social media platforms including X and LinkedIn and Facebook, Subhash can be heard saying, "I feel that I should kill myself because the money I earn is making my enemies stronger. That same money will be used to destroy me, and this cycle will continue.”
He further says: "With the money from my taxes, this court and police system will harass me, my family, and other good people. So, the supply of value should be finished."
Demanding justice, Subhash urges his family to scatter his ashes outside the court's gutter if his alleged harassers were not found guilty.
The incident has evoked massive outrage across the country, igniting an online debate about men’s rights.
“AtulSubhash deserves justice. He has given his life to become the voice of countless men undergoing the same pain in varying degrees,” read a social media post.
“Today, I just saw a AtulSubhash video, that shattered me. It was from a man who decided to end his life, unable to bear the cruelty and false accusations from his wife. I can’t stop thinking about the pain and hopelessness he must have endured, and it raises so many questions about justice and humanity,” reads another post.
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