Bengaluru techie suicide case: Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal booked; family questions mysterious bank transfer

BENGALURU: A 38-year-old engineer working with Ola Electric in Koramangala allegedly died by suicide on September 28, with a recovered note accusing top company executives of workplace harassment and mental pressure.

A criminal case has now been registered against Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal, senior engineer Subrat Kumar Das, and others for alleged abetment.The deceased, K. Aravind, had been working with Ola Electric since 2022. His family was reportedly taken aback when a sum of Rs 17.46 lakh was transferred to his bank account on September 30, two days after his death. The transaction raised suspicions, prompting Aravind’s elder brother, Ashwin, to approach Ola’s HR department for clarity.

However, the family alleges that the company failed to provide a satisfactory explanation.Subsequently, a handwritten note believed to be Aravind’s suicide letter was found at his residence. In the note, he reportedly detailed alleged harassment at the hands of CEO Bhavish Aggarwal, Subrat Kumar Das, and other senior officials. According to the contents, Aravind had been subjected to mental stress, non-payment of salary, and withdrawal of allowances, which he claimed drove him to take the extreme step.

Following a complaint filed by Aravind’s family, a case under IPC Section 306 (abetment to suicide) has been registered against the named individuals. The investigation is underway.Authorities are expected to examine digital evidence, internal communications, and HR policies to determine the veracity of the allegations.