The tragic suicides of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash in December 2024 and TCS recruitment manager Manav Sharma in February 2025 highlight a growing but often overlooked issue&mdash;men facing alleged harassment from their spouses and in-laws. 
Both men recorded their grievances before taking the extreme step, yet their cries for help went unanswered until it was too late. These cases raise pressing questions: Are men adequately protected under Indian law? Does the legal system favour women disproportionately, leaving men without proper channels for justice? And most importantly, how can we strike a balance to ensure fairness for all, regardless of gender?
The Cases: Disturbing Parallels
In both cases, the deceased men accused their wives and in-laws of harassment. Atul Subhash left behind a 24-page suicide note and a video detailing alleged extortion and mistreatment by his wife Nikita, mother-in-law Nisha, and brother-in-law Anurag. According to his note, his in-laws demanded ₹3 crore alimony and weaponized the legal system against him. Following his death, his wife and in-laws were arrested on charges of extortion and harassment.
Similarly, Manav Sharma recorded a suicide video where he expressed distress over his wife&rsquo;s threats to implicate him and his family in false legal cases. His family alleged that his wife openly spoke about wanting to be with another man and that her family had issued threats against Manav before his death. 
Despite the severity of the accusations, the police initially delayed filing a complaint, reportedly due to the absence of a senior officer on Maha Shivratri.
Both instances expose an alarming trend where men reportedly feel trapped in abusive relationships, fear legal repercussions, and ultimately see no way out but suicide.
Do India&rsquo;s Laws Favour Women?
India has several laws designed to protect women from domestic abuse and harassment, such as Section 85 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (which replaced Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code) penalizes cruelty by a husband or his relatives. It defines cruelty as any intentional act that causes harm to a woman. This can include physical violence, emotional abuse, or harassment. 
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; How is cruelty defined in BNS?
(a) any wilful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman; or 
(b) harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to her to meet such demand. 
While such laws were enacted to safeguard women against genuine abuse, they have often been criticized for being misused. The Supreme Court of India itself has acknowledged instances of false cases. On December 10, 2024, the apex court had cautioned against the indiscriminate use of the law, stressing that it should not be misused as a tool for personal vendetta.&nbsp;
However, the legal framework for men facing abuse is notably weak. Unlike women, men have no dedicated laws to protect them from domestic violence, mental harassment, or financial extortion by their spouses. 
While men can file counter-cases under defamation or extortion laws, these processes are often slow, expensive, and heavily skewed against them in societal perception. The assumption that men cannot be victims of domestic abuse further complicates their pursuit of justice.
Nikita Sharma&rsquo;s Claims: A New Twist
Following Manav Sharma&rsquo;s death, his wife, Nikita Sharma, has now broken her silence, sharing a video in which she alleges that she was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her husband. She also released WhatsApp chats claiming that she had warned Manav&rsquo;s sister about his suicidal thoughts, urging her to check on him. According to Nikita, her sister-in-law dismissed her concerns, telling her to ignore them, and failed to intervene when Manav was in distress.
These claims add a new layer to the discussion, highlighting how complex and multifaceted such cases can be. While Manav&rsquo;s family accuses his wife of harassment, she presents herself as a victim of domestic abuse, raising the question: How can the legal system effectively and fairly navigate such disputes without bias?
Call for Gender-Neutral Laws
The cases of Atul Subhash and Manav Sharma demonstrate an urgent need for reforms that ensure fairness for all, regardless of gender. Some potential solutions include:
<ol style="margin-top: 0cm;" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Gender-Neutral Domestic Violence Laws &ndash; Introducing laws that recognize that both men and women can be victims of domestic abuse.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Fast-Track Mechanisms for Men&rsquo;s Grievances &ndash; Setting up special cells to handle complaints by men facing harassment or false accusations.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Accountability for False Cases &ndash; Imposing strict penalties for those who file baseless allegations to exploit the legal system.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Mental Health Support for Distressed Men &ndash; Establishing counselling centres and helplines dedicated to men struggling with relationship issues and legal battles.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Balanced Approach in Courts &ndash; Ensuring that courts assess all domestic disputes impartially rather than assuming guilt based on gender.</li>
</ol>
Breaking the Cycle
The deaths of Atul Subhash and Manav Sharma should serve as wake-up calls. While protecting women&rsquo;s rights remains crucial, justice should not come at the cost of neglecting male victims. The legal system must recognize the struggles of men facing harassment, just as it does for women. A fair society is one where laws serve to protect all individuals, irrespective of gender.
Moreover, cases like these highlight the complexity of domestic disputes. Instead of assuming guilt based on gender, the legal system must conduct thorough, unbiased investigations before drawing conclusions. It is time to move towards a more balanced, equitable legal framework that upholds justice for everyone.
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After Atul Subhash, now Manav Sharma’s death has raised the need for discussion on gender-neutral laws

When the Law Fails Men | An Analysis of Recent Male Suicides

After Atul Subhash, now Manav Sharma’s death has raised the need for discussion on gender-neutral laws

February 28, 2025 | 18:37 IST