India's false domestic violence cases mobilise men's rights movement

Dying man's claim of being falsely accused by wife sparks protests across country

- Rohini Mohan

A Bengaluru man's dying allegation on social media that he had been falsely accused of domestic violence by his wife has gone viral, and cases like his are now being championed by a small group of men's rights activists (MRAs) in India.

On Dec 8, Mr Atul Subhash, 34, a deputy manager at an Indian conglomerate in Bengaluru, uploaded an 80-minute video accusing his estranged wife Nikita Singhania and her family of filing false reports of cruelty and dowry harassment against him to extort money.

Early the next morning, the Bengaluru police found Mr Subhash dead in his apartment, with a piece of paper on his chest with the words "justice is due". He also left behind a 24-page suicide note that details his emotional distress from years of legal battles.

He blamed his death on a judge in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, who replied with a laugh when his wife allegedly dismissed his comments about committing suicide.

At the time of his death, he was in the midst of divorcing Singhania, whom he married in 2019.

On Dec 14, the police arrested Singhania, her mother and brother on charges of abetment of suicide after Mr Subhash's brother Bikas Kumar filed a report.

Mr Subhash's notes and video have gone viral on social media.

On Dec 15, Indian MRAs held protests and public memorials in at least five cities across India, demanding that husbands like Mr Subhash be protected from the alleged misuse of laws that are supposed to shield women against dowry and domestic violence.