Bengaluru: A 38-year-old engineer working with Ola Electric allegedly died by suicide on September 28, leaving behind a note accusing top company executives, including CEO Bhavish Aggarwal, of workplace harassment and mental pressure.
The deceased, identified as K. Aravind, had been employed with Ola Electric since 2022. Following his death, police registered a criminal case against Aggarwal, senior engineer Subrat Kumar Das, and other officials under Section 108 (abetment to suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to police, Aravind’s family grew suspicious after ₹17.46 lakh was transferred to his bank account two days after his death, on September 30. His elder brother, Ashwin, sought clarification from Ola’s HR department but reportedly received no satisfactory response.
A handwritten note, believed to be Aravind’s suicide letter, was later recovered from his residence. The note allegedly mentioned persistent mental stress, non-payment of salary, and withdrawal of allowances. Aravind claimed he was subjected to harassment by the company’s top management, which pushed him to take the extreme step.
Police have begun examining digital evidence, internal communications, and HR records to verify the allegations.
In a statement, an Ola Electric spokesperson expressed condolences, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate demise of our colleague Aravind, and our thoughts remain with his family during this difficult time. During his tenure, Aravind never raised any complaint or grievance regarding his employment or any harassment. His role did not involve any direct interaction with the company’s top management, including the promoter.”
The spokesperson also confirmed that Ola Electric has challenged the registration of the FIR before the Karnataka High Court, and protective orders have been passed in favor of the company and its officials.
