IT giant Accenture has locked its official X account following demands for the sacking of AI expert Atul Subhash’s wife after he committed suicide. Subhash tragically took his life on December 9, 2024, leaving behind a 24-page suicide note and a 90-minute video in which he accused his estranged wife, Nikita Singhania, an employee at Accenture, of harassment and extortion.
Before long, several users on X demanded Accenture dismiss Singhania for allegedly pushing her husband to take the drastic step of taking his own life. One of the users tweeted, “The bare minimum @Accenture should do is sack the murderer responsible for the death of Atul Subhash.” Many others accused the company of being complicit in Subhash’s death.
As the barrage of tweets asking Accenture to dismiss Singhania began to mount, the company locked its official X account, trying to handle the online repercussions of the 34-year-old software engineer’s suicide, which has brought to the fore the issue of harassment faced by men in a toxic relationship.
However, the move is widely perceived as an effort to minimize scrutiny as the situation unfolds. Additionally, Accenture CEO Julie Sweet also locked her X profile amidst the escalating criticism. Meanwhile, candlelight vigils were organised outside Accenture’s offices in Bengaluru, where IT professionals gathered in solidarity with Subhash, calling for justice.
The marriage between Nikita Singhania and Atul Subhash, which took place in 2019, ended in a contentious separation in 2021. In his suicide note, Subhash accused Singhania and her relatives of relentless harassment, including demands for a significant portion of a ₹3 crore settlement and filing false domestic violence and dowry harassment cases against him. He claimed these pressures pushed him into despair, ultimately leading to his tragic decision to end his life.
The police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Subhash’s death. An FIR has been filed against Singhania and some of her family members, charging them with abetment of suicide, among other offences. Authorities are also probing allegations of extortion and harassment leading up to the incident. While both families have denied the accusations, the case has sparked a broader debate about marital disputes and the legal rights of men in India.
