Kanpur: A tragic incident has emerged from Kanpur, where a 23-year-old law graduate, Priyanshu Srivastava, died by suicide inside the court premises on April 23, 2026, around noon.
A resident of Barun Vihar under Barra police station limits, Priyanshu left behind a detailed suicide note outlining years of alleged mental harassment by his father, Rajendra Kumar Srivastava.
Struggles Despite Academic Progress
Priyanshu had completed his law degree in 2025 from Kanpur and was in the process of registering with the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh when he took this extreme step.
In his note, he mentioned that due to time constraints, he had not yet completed the registration process.
Allegations of Childhood Trauma
The suicide note reveals disturbing claims of emotional abuse dating back to early childhood.
Priyanshu wrote that at the age of five or six, he was punished harshly allegedly stripped and forced out of the house for drinking mango juice from the refrigerator.
He described this as a deeply traumatic experience that left a lasting impact.
In 2016, when he was entering Class 9, he claimed his father forced him to choose Computer Science under threat of similar humiliation.
Due to lack of interest and ongoing stress, he could not perform well academically. Construction work at home further disrupted his studies, affecting his high school results.
Fear, Pressure, and Running Away
Before his high school results were declared, Priyanshu alleged that his father threatened him again over poor marks.
Out of fear, he reportedly ran away from home and reached Mathura by train. He also mentioned that a minor childhood mistake stealing a small coin was repeatedly brought up by his father to publicly shame him, even years later.
Similar disruptions affected his intermediate (Class 12) studies in 2018, limiting his performance to around 60%.
Financial Independence Yet Continued Humiliation
Despite these challenges, Priyanshu began giving tuition classes after his intermediate exams and later took up online work.
According to the note, he financially supported himself and contributed significantly to the household buying mobile phones for himself, his father, and his sister, purchasing a scooter, and even paying daily expenses and electricity bills.
He also assisted his father in legal work at the court.
However, he alleged that despite these efforts, he continued to face verbal abuse, including derogatory slurs, and was frequently humiliated in public.
Suffocating Environment and Constant Surveillance
Priyanshu described living under constant scrutiny—being questioned about his whereabouts, phone calls, and daily activities.
He wrote that excessive control and lack of personal space made his life unbearable. In his words, “It is better to die once than to die every day.”
He also mentioned an incident where he planned to gift a silver ring to his parents on their 25th anniversary, but even this gesture was met with ridicule.
Chose Court Premises Deliberately
In a deeply emotional conclusion, Priyanshu wrote that he intentionally chose the court premises for his suicide, as he could no longer endure the humiliation and restrictions.
He requested that his father should not touch his body after death. At the same time, he stated that he did not want any legal action against his father, fearing it would destroy the family.
He ended the note with the line: “I lost, Papa won. Congratulations to them,” and expressed love for his mother and sister: “Love you Mammi and Behen.”
A Larger Social Concern
This incident highlights more than just a personal tragedy. It raises serious questions about mental health, family dynamics, and the impact of prolonged emotional abuse.
Priyanshu was an educated young man, financially contributing to his household and supporting his family, yet he felt unheard and isolated.
His repeated references to social image and public humiliation underline the deep psychological toll such experiences can have.
The case reflects a lack of open communication within families and a broader societal indifference toward emotional well-being.