Bengaluru Ola Engineer’s Suicide Sparks Controversy; FIR Filed Against Top Officials

A tragic incident has shaken Bengaluru’s tech community as K. Aravind (38), an engineer at Ola Electric, took his own life on September 28 at his home. Before his death, Aravind left a 28-page suicide note, alleging mental harassment and financial irregularities by senior company officials, including Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal.Aravind had been working as a homologation engineer since 2022. Despite being rushed to the hospital after consuming poison, he passed away the same day. Following his death, his family discovered the detailed note in which he accused managers Subrata Kumar Das and Bhavish Aggarwal of denying salaries and allowances while subjecting him to continuous mental stress.

Adding to the family’s concerns, ₹17.46 lakh was reportedly transferred to Aravind’s account two days after his death. When his brother questioned the company, officials failed to provide clarity, prompting the family to approach the police.On October 6, the police filed an FIR against Bhavish Aggarwal, Das, and other officials, citing harassment, humiliation, and alleged financial misconduct as factors leading to Aravind’s suicide. The family is demanding legal action against those responsible.Ola, meanwhile, expressed regret over Aravind’s death but denied any harassment claims, stating that he never raised complaints regarding his job or treatment. The company also clarified that Aravind did not have direct interactions with the founder. Ola has challenged the FIR in the Karnataka High Court, which has granted protection orders to its officials.

Despite this, Aravind’s family continues to demand justice and stricter action against corporate harassment, emphasizing the need for accountability in workplace environments.