NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Tuesday denied the mother of Atul Subhash, an automobile firm executive who died by suicide on Dec 9, 2024, his minor son's custody saying she was "stranger to the child".
A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and N Kotiswar Singh said the issue of the child's custody could be raised before the court conducting the trial. "Sorry to say but the child is a stranger to the petitioner. If you wish, please visit the child. In case you want the custody of the child, there is a separate procedure," said the bench.

SC was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Anju Devi, Subhash's mother, seeking custody of her 4-year-old grandson. Subhash died on Dec 9, 2024, stating in his suicide note that he was being harassed by his wife and her family. Wife Nikita Singhania, her mother, and brother were subsequently arrested by Bengaluru police and remanded in 14-day judicial custody. A Bengaluru court on Jan 4 granted bail to the trio.
Child has to be produced at next hearing: SC
During the hearing, the top court was informed by the counsel appearing for Nikita that the child was studying at a boarding school in Haryana.
"We will take the child to Bengaluru. We have taken the boy out of school. The mother has to remain in Bengaluru to fulfil the bail conditions," submitted the counsel.
Advocate Kumar Dushyant Singh, representing Anju Devi, sought the child's custody and alleged that Nikita had kept the child's location under wraps. He also argued that a child below six years of age should not be sent to a boarding school and relied on photos to show the petitioner interacting with the child when he was only a couple of years old.
The apex court directed the child to be produced in court on the next hearing on Jan 20, and said the case couldn't be decided on the basis of a media trial.