December 11, 2024 - Social media is on fire with hash tags and allegations following the tragic suicide of techie Atul Subhash (34) in Bengaluru who hanged himself alleging mental torture at the hands of his estranged wife and her family. In a 24-page suicide note and a video, the deceased has questioned the legal system which he saw as working in favour of women. On his chest was taped an A4 sheet paper which read “Justice is Due”.

Social media platforms have since begun to see an outpour of rage and started to trend with the #MenToo, #JusticeForAtulSubhash hashtag movement as men have come out in support of Atul and targeted a legal and social system which they called as being women-centric. One user has even written on X (formerly Twitter), “It’s a crime to be a man in India.”

Atul, originally from Uttar Pradesh, had been separated from his wife and was living alone in Bengaluru. In his suicide note, the techie talks of the frustration he faced because of the number of cases his estranged wife had filed against him. All his earnings, he said, were being spent on court cases and his continuous travel to UP to attend courtroom hearings. He accused his wife of prolonged and deliberate harassment which had taken a toll on his mental state and also claimed that she instigated this step.

The heart-wrenching suicide note, which he had emailed to an NGO, and video also implicated a Jaunpur family court judge who, Atul alleged, had laughed at his struggles and also asked for Rs 5 lakh from him as a bribe to resolve his case.

The wife was demanding Rs 3 crores from him as a settlement to the divorce. Initially, her demand had been for Rs 1 crore but reportedly, it suddenly jumped to Rs 3 crore. When he refused to pay, she filed a series of cases against him accusing him and his family of trying to murder her. She also alleged harassment over dowry and sexual misconduct.

“It is better for me to end my life as the money that I am earning is only making my enemies stronger as I have to pay them, and the same money will be used to destroy me. This cycle will keep continuing,” Atul said in the video.

The Marathahalli police, the police station area of Atul’s residence, said: “We have booked them (the wife and her family) under Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) section 108 (abetment of suicide) and launched an investigation.”

According to the police, the man faced over 40 court notices in one year, forcing him to keep travelling between Bengaluru and Uttar Pradesh.

Social media users are also targetting the deceased man’s wife. She was found to be working for a Bengaluru tech MNC and the company has come under fire with users giving an ultimatum to the company to fire her within 24 hours.