Changed locations, used WhatsApp: How cops nabbed Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash's wife
Prime accused in the sensational Atul Subhash suicide case, Nikita Singhania, changed her location every day to avoid arrest and tried to obtain bail in the case, said police sources on Monday.
Three accused in Atul Subhash's suicide case -- his wife, her mother and brother -- who were arrested by Bengaluru Police, were sent to 14-day judicial custody on Sunday.
Atul Subhash's wife Nikita Singhania was arrested from Haryana's Gurugram and her mother Nisha Singhania and brother Anurag Singhania were nabbed in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
Police sources, while giving details about the arrest of the accused, stated that the special teams which went to Uttar Pradesh had found that the accused had locked their houses and left after getting the news of the arrival of Karnataka Police teams. The police had pasted notices on the walls of their residences asking them to appear before the police within three days.
The special team gathered information about the accused and listed out the close relatives and friends suspected to be in touch with them. They were also monitored. As the accused made calls only on WhatsApp, it was difficult to track them.
However, Nikita Singhania, made one phone call mistakenly to one of her close relatives. Based on the tower location the police went to Gurugram in Haryana and found that she was hiding in a PG accommodation in the Rail Vihar area. She was detained by the police in the city.
The police grilled Nikita and got her to make a phone call to her mother Nisha Singhania and brother Anurag Singhania. After tracking their location, the police picked them up from Jhunsi town in Uttar Pradesh.
The accused were questioned later for nine hours during the transit time to Bengaluru and ensured that the 2-year-old baby boy was in the safe custody of one of her relatives. Police recorded the statements of the accused persons before presenting them to the judge.
Nikita Singhania has claimed that she never harassed Atul Subhash and she was living away from him for three years. Meanwhile, the family of Atul Subhash is claiming custody of Atul and Nikita's 2-year-old baby boy. Bikas Kumar, brother of deceased Subhash, has claimed that the family wanted to see the baby.
The accused persons were produced before the court and were sent to judicial custody for 14 days. After nabbing the accused persons, the Karnataka Police brought them to Bengaluru on Saturday late at night.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Atul Subhash had planned to commit suicide 15 days before taking the extreme step. He had written the death note three days ago and searched legal matters on Google.
Police registered an FIR against the accused persons under Sections 108, 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) on December 9. Bikas Kumar had lodged a police complaint alleging abetment to suicide with the Marathahalli police in Bengaluru.
The FIR was lodged against Subhash's wife Nikita Singhania, mother-in-law Nisha Singhania, brother-in-law Anurag Singhania and relative Sushil Singhania. Police are yet to arrest the fourth accused, Sushil, in the case.
Bikas Kumar alleged in the complaint that false cases were lodged against his brother by the accused and had demanded Rs 3 crore to settle the case. He had also alleged that his brother was taunted in the court during the proceedings that he had to either give Rs 3 crore or commit suicide.
Nikita's family had alleged that the deceased Subhash demanded a hefty dowry from her family which resulted in the death of her father.
Subhash, who was working with an automobile company in Bengaluru, allegedly died by suicide as a demand of Rs 3 crore was made for a divorce settlement.
He ended his life at his apartment in the early hours of December 9, leaving behind a 90-minute video and a 40-page death note, explaining how harassment by his wife Nikita and her family compelled him to take the extreme step.
