NEW DELHI, 7 JAN 

The Supreme Court has denied custody of a four-year-old boy to the mother of Atul Subhash, the Bengaluru techie who tragically took his own life in December 2024. The court ruled that Anju Devi, Subhash's mother, was a "stranger to the child".

A bench comprising Justices Bela M Trivedi and N Kotiswar Singh advised Devi to pursue custody through the appropriate legal channels, stating, "If you wish, please visit the child. In case you want the custody of the child, there is a separate procedure."

Subhash, 34, was discovered hanging in his home in Munnekolalu, Bengaluru, on 9 December, 2024, leaving behind messages that reportedly blamed his wife and in-laws for his tragic decision. The Supreme Court's ruling came during a habeas corpus petition filed by Devi, who is seeking her grandson's custody.

During proceedings, it was revealed that the child is currently enrolled at a boarding school in Haryana. The estranged wife of Subhash, Nikita Singhania, has been granted bail along with her family members after they were implicated in an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, for allegedly abetting Subhash's suicide.

Devi's legal representative claimed that a child under six should not be placed in a boarding school and presented photos suggesting her past interaction with the child. The Supreme Court has mandated the child's presence for the next hearing on 20 January, emphasising that a fair trial must be upheld, not swayed by media speculation.   -PTI