Note on “Legal Terrorism” in India..
Legal terrorism refers to the deliberate misuse of legal processes to harass, intimidate, or harm innocent individuals through false litigation and malicious prosecution, often exploiting a corrupt or gender-biased legal system. In India, this phenomenon is particularly evident in matrimonial disputes, where laws designed to protect women are sometimes weaponized to extort, defame, or mentally torture men, leading to severe emotional, financial, and social consequences. The concept of “death by delay” highlights how prolonged legal proceedings exacerbate victims’ suffering, acting as a form of punishment even when the accused is innocent. Below, we explore this issue, focusing on false cases, systemic biases, and notable examples like Atul Subhash and Manav Sharma.
Key Aspects of Legal Terrorism
- False Litigation:
- Involves filing baseless lawsuits or complaints with malicious intent, often under laws like Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which addresses cruelty and dowry harassment.
- These cases typically lack credible evidence but are used to pressure the accused into financial settlements or to settle personal scores.
- False allegations, such as dowry demands, domestic violence, or even murder, are common, exploiting legal provisions that require minimal initial scrutiny.
- Malicious Prosecution:
- Initiating legal action without reasonable grounds to harass or ruin the accused, often involving multiple simultaneous cases to overwhelm the victim.
- Victims face arrests, social stigma, and financial ruin, even if the cases are later dismissed or proven false.
- The lack of stringent penalties for false accusers emboldens such misuse.
- Corrupt Gender-Biased Legal System:
- Laws like Section 498A were enacted to protect women from genuine abuse but are often misused due to their non-bailable nature and presumption of guilt against men.
- Gender-biased laws assume men are perpetrators, leading to automatic arrests and limited recourse for false accusations.
- Corruption in police and judicial systems, including bribery or pressure to favor complainants, exacerbates the issue.
- Death by Delay:
- Refers to the prolonged legal process in India’s overburdened courts, where cases can drag on for years, causing financial depletion, mental anguish, and social ostracism.
- Delays are often deliberate, with adjournments, frivolous motions, or systemic inefficiencies acting as tools of harassment.
- The phrase encapsulates how the legal process itself becomes a punishment, pushing victims toward despair or, in extreme cases, suicide.
- Impact on Victims:
- Emotional Trauma: Constant fear, anxiety, depression, and loss of trust in justice.
- Financial Ruin: High legal fees, loss of employment, and extortionate settlement demands.
- Social Stigma: Public shaming, damaged relationships, and isolation.
- Mental Health Crisis: In extreme cases, victims resort to suicide due to unrelenting pressure.
Examples of False Cases in India
- Atul Subhash Case (2024):
- Background: Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old software engineer from Bengaluru, died by suicide on December 9, 2024, leaving a 24-page suicide note and an 81-minute video detailing alleged harassment by his estranged wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family.
- Allegations: Subhash faced multiple false cases, including dowry harassment, domestic violence, unnatural sex, and even murder (related to his father-in-law’s death, later admitted to be false during cross-examination). His wife demanded a ₹3 crore settlement and ₹2 lakh monthly maintenance, despite being employed at Accenture.
- Death by Delay: Subhash’s cases were pending in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, with prolonged hearings and alleged judicial bias. He claimed a judge taunted him to commit suicide and demanded a ₹5 lakh bribe to settle the case.
- Impact: Denied access to his four-year-old son and facing relentless legal battles, Subhash described a “legal genocide of men” in his note, sparking nationwide outrage and debates on gender-biased laws. His wife and her family were arrested for abetment of suicide but later released on bail.
- Significance: The case galvanized men’s rights activists, with hashtags like #JusticeForAtulSubhash trending on social media, highlighting systemic misuse of laws.
- Manav Sharma Case (2025):
- Background: Manav Sharma, a 25-year-old TCS manager from Mumbai, died by suicide on February 24, 2025, in Agra, leaving a 6-minute, 57-second video accusing his wife, Nikita Sharma, of harassment.
- Allegations: Married in January 2024, Sharma faced threats of false accusations from his wife, who allegedly expressed a desire to live with her boyfriend. His father claimed she and her family threatened Manav, leading to his suicide the day after dropping her at her maternal home.
- Death by Delay: Though specific delays are not detailed, the emotional toll of ongoing marital disputes and fear of false cases mirrors the systemic issues in Subhash’s case. A case was registered under BNS Section 108 (abetment of suicide) only after a delayed family complaint.
- Counter-Narrative: Nikita Sharma denied the allegations, claiming Manav struggled with alcohol addiction and prior suicide attempts, which she had reported to his family.
- Significance: The case echoed Subhash’s, fueling discussions on men’s mental health and the need for legal protections for men, with Sharma’s video urging society to “talk about men.”
- Other Notable Cases:
- Puneet Khurana (2024): A 40-year-old Delhi bakery owner died by suicide on December 31, 2024, alleging mental harassment by his wife and in-laws during divorce and business disputes. His case further amplified the #MenToo movement.
- Pramod Verma (2025): Son of a former MLA from Madhya Pradesh, Verma attempted suicide due to marital discord and alleged legal harassment, highlighting the widespread nature of such cases.
- Thippanna Alugur (2024): A Bengaluru police head constable died by suicide, citing harassment by his wife and father-in-law, underscoring how even law enforcement officials are vulnerable.
Systemic Issues and “Death by Delay”
- Judicial Overload: India’s courts handle millions of pending cases, with matrimonial disputes often delayed by years due to adjournments and backlog. For instance, Subhash’s cases in Jaunpur lingered without resolution, amplifying his distress.
- Police Complicity: Corrupt police may file FIRs without investigation, as seen in Subhash’s case, where nine complaints were lodged against him, including a false murder charge.
- Lack of Accountability: False accusers face minimal consequences, as evidenced by Nikita Singhania’s bail in Subhash’s case, despite admitted false charges.
- Gender Bias: Laws like Section 498A presume male guilt, leading to immediate arrests and social stigma. The Supreme Court has acknowledged misuse, terming it “legal terrorism” in some instances, but reforms remain limited.
- Extortion Tactics: High settlement demands (e.g., ₹3 crore in Subhash’s case) exploit prolonged legal battles, forcing victims to pay to avoid further harassment.
Combating Legal Terrorism
- Legal Reforms:
- Enact gender-neutral laws to protect all victims of domestic abuse, as suggested by BJP MP Dinesh Sharma in Parliament.
- Introduce penalties for false complaints to deter malicious litigation, as advocated in a 2024 PIL following Subhash’s death.
- Amend Section 498A to require evidence before arrests and mandate mediation, as softened over the years but still prone to misuse.
- Judicial Efficiency:
- Fast-track matrimonial and harassment cases to reduce “death by delay.”
- Train judges to identify frivolous claims and address judicial corruption, as alleged in Subhash’s case.
- Support Systems:
- Provide legal aid and mental health support for victims of false cases.
- Establish a National Commission for Men to address systemic biases, as demanded by activists post-Subhash’s death.
- Public Awareness:
- Media should cover men’s struggles empathetically, as noted by activists frustrated by prior neglect until Subhash’s viral video.
- Educate society on the misuse of laws to reduce stigma against male victims.
Conclusion
Legal terrorism in India, driven by false litigation and malicious prosecution within a gender-biased and corrupt legal system, has devastated countless lives, as seen in the tragic cases of Atul Subhash, Manav Sharma, and others. The concept of “death by delay” underscores how prolonged legal battles amplify victims’ suffering, often leading to mental health crises or suicide. Addressing this requires urgent reforms to ensure gender-neutral laws, judicial efficiency, and accountability for false accusers. By tackling systemic flaws, India can restore faith in its legal system and prevent further “legal genocide” of innocent individuals.

