The tragic suicide of Bengaluru-based IT professional Atul Subhash has exposed systemic inefficiencies in India’s legal system. Yet, instead of addressing these failings, certain groups have used his death to fuel hatred against women, undermine progressive laws like IPC 498A, and skew public perception.
Amid claims of women misusing marriage laws, the data tells a different story. In 2022, out of 140,019 reported cases of cruelty by husbands or in-laws under IPC 498A, only 7,076 (5%) were found false after investigation. Meanwhile, nearly 32% of married women reported facing emotional, physical, or sexual violence from their partners (NFHS-5). Atul Subhash’s tragic suicide raises critical questions about systemic inefficiencies, not a blanket misuse of laws.
Let’s unpack the facts, explore the role of systemic inefficiencies, and understand how tragedy can sometimes become a tool to perpetuate misogyny.
In this episode of Janab, Aise Kaise?, we dive into the data, laws, and narratives behind these debates.