Bengaluru/IBNS: The Karnataka High Court Monday refused to quash an FIR against Nikita Singh, the estranged wife of Atul Subhash, who committed suicide after accusing her and his in-laws of harassment and extortion in a video message.

Hearing a petition by Nikita Singhania to overturn the charges against her in the abatement to suicide case, the single bench observed that prima facie evidence supported the ongoing investigation, and questioned the lack of progress in collecting key evidence like the death note and suicide video.

The court directed that all documents gathered during the investigation be submitted and asked the government to file its objections. The matter has been adjourned for two weeks.

A Bengaluru court granted Nikita and her family members bail in the case on Saturday.

The Bengaluru Police last month arrested Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha, and brother Anurag days after the 34-year-old techie died by suicide after accusing his wife and in-laws of harassment and extortion in a video message.

While Nikita was arrested in Gurugram, her mother and brother were detained from Prayagraj.

All the three accused were brought to Bengaluru then.

They were booked under Sections 108 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for abetting his suicide.

Atul had accused his estranged wife and her family members of harassment and extortion in an 81-minute video and a 24-page suicide note before committing suicide on Dec 9.

He alleged that he and his family were slapped with charges of murder, dowry harassment, and unnatural sex.

However, Nikita later withdrew the case.

Atul had refuted the dowry charges by Nikita and also claimed there was no link between the dowry demand and the death of Nikita's father.

In the 24-page suicide note, Atul alleged his wife was getting Rs. 40,000 (USD  471) per month for maintenance despite having a job at Accenture and even asked for Rs. 2-4 lakh (USD  2,358-  4,716) more.