Allahabad High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Nikita Singhania's Uncle In Bangalore Techie Suicide Case

The Allahabad High Court on Monday (16 December) granted anticipatory bail to Sushil Singhania, uncle of Nikita Singhania, in connection with the suicide case of Artificial Intelligence engineer Atul Subhash. Justice Ashutosh Srivastava passed the order while hearing the anticipatory bail plea filed by Singhania.

Atul Subhash’s wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family members, including her mother Nisha Singhania and brother Anurag Singhania, were arrested earlier in connection with the case.

Bengaluru Police officials confirmed that Nikita was apprehended in Gurugram, Haryana, while Nisha and Anurag were taken into custody from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

The trio was brought to Bengaluru and placed under 14-day judicial custody following their production in a local court.

Senior counsel Manish Tiwary, representing Sushil Singhania, argued that his client was being subjected to a media trial and that the arrests were based on a suicide note and video that had gone viral online.

Tiwary highlighted that Singhania, a 69-year-old with chronic medical conditions, is "virtually incapacitated" and denied any role in abetting the suicide.

“It was also argued that there is a distinction between abetment and harassment and if the suicide note is taken on its face value, the allegations leveled at most would be taken to be harassment for implicating the deceased in false cases and extracting huge sums of money,” the counsel submitted.

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.”

The court directed that in the event of arrest, Singhania be released on anticipatory bail upon furnishing a personal bond of ₹50,000 with two sureties of like amount. The order remains effective until the submission of the police report under Section 173(2) CrPC.

Additional conditions were imposed, including making himself available for interrogation, refraining from inducing or threatening witnesses, and surrendering his passport. The court emphasized that Singhania must not leave India without prior permission.

“If the applicant has a passport, it shall be deposited by him before the SSP or SP concerned,” the court directed.