Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The tragic suicide of city photographer Nitin Padiyar, mirroring the case of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, has sent shockwaves through the city and sparked a debate over dowry and divorce laws.
Like Subhash, Nitin too ended his life citing harassment by his estranged wife and in-laws. Nitin’s friend Lucky Dhakad said that Nitin had to travel from Indore to Kuchaman, Rajasthan (600 km), to attend court hearings related to cases filed against him.
Initially, he attended the hearings alone, but later when his brother and mother were also implicated in the case, they too had to travel for the hearings.
The expenses for travel, accommodation and legal fees amounted to a minimum of Rs 15,000 per hearing.
With his photography business severely affected, Nitin was forced to borrow money from friends and relatives to attend the hearings. He last attended a hearing in December 2024, with the next scheduled for January 31, 2025. However, before that, he committed suicide, leaving behind a 14-page note blaming his wife and in-laws for harassment. His wife had filed a case, allegedly demanding maintenance and Rs 20 lakh in alimony.
Wife and in-laws threatened him at last hearing
During the last hearing in December, Nitin’s wife and in-laws allegedly threatened him and his family that they would be framed in another false case. Initially, when Nitin was the sole accused, he endured the suffering alone. However, after his brother and mother were dragged into the case, he fell into deep depression. The family not only had to endure the exhausting 600 km journey for the hearings but was also allegedly assaulted at the police station.
Not allowed to see his son for two years
Family members said that Nitin and his family were not allowed to see his two-and-a-half-year-old son for the past two years. His wife Harsha and her family even blocked them on social media to prevent them from seeing the child virtually. After their marriage, Harsha became pregnant. However, since her family had disowned her due to the love marriage, they allegedly forced her to abort the child when she visited them. She had initially told Nitin she was visiting her grandparents in Jaipur, but later he found that her family had coerced her to abort the child.
Harsha returned to parental home with kid two-years ago
On March 3, 2023, Harsha went to her maternal home in Kuchaman (Rajasthan) with her toddler son. Initially, all seemed fine, but after two months, Harsha began ignoring Nitin’s calls and messages. This continued for a few months. In 2024, Nitin received a notice for divorce and dowry harassment as Harsha filed a complaint at the local police station in Kuchaman. Four months later, she lodged another complaint, accusing Nitin’s brother and mother of dowry harassment.
How Nitin met Harsha
Harsha had come to Indore to pursue her studies, while Nitin was working in the telecom business. They met near Bengali Square when Harsha visited Nitin’s mobile recharge shop. They became friends and later got married at Arya Samaj Temple in 2019. Although Nitin’s family eventually accepted their relationship and hosted a reception, Harsha’s family never accepted Nitin as their son-in-law.
Kuchaman police station staff demanded Rs 50k bribe
The family alleged that staff at the Kuchaman police station assaulted Nitin and his family and demanded Rs 50,000 to remove Nitin’s brother and mother’s names from the case. +box With Pic – Suicide Protest (Pic by Anand Shivre)
Family stages protest at Marimata Square
The family members of Nitin staged a protest and blocked traffic at Marimata Square for two hours on Thursday, seeking the arrest of the accused. They carried posters demanding justice for him and strict action against his wife and in-laws.
The protestors raised slogans against his wife Harsha, mother-in- law Sita Sharma and sisters-in-law Meenakshi and Varsha Sharma. Police officials reached the spot and pacified the protesters.
