The tragic death of a 25-year-old machine learning engineer has cast a spotlight on workplace culture at AI firm Krutrim, owned by ride-hailing giant Ola. The engineer, Nikhil Somwanshi, was discovered dead in Agara Lake on May 8, with early reports suggesting suicide linked to extreme job stress and alleged managerial harassment.
Somwanshi, a top graduate from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, joined Krutrim in August 2024 after completing his master’s degree. A gifted student with a GPA of 9.30, he reportedly assumed additional responsibilities after several colleagues resigned, allegedly due to the behavior of his US-based manager, Rajkiran Panuganti.
A viral Reddit post from a user identifying as a former colleague, under the handle ‘Kirgawakutzo,’ alleged that Panuganti fostered a hostile environment, used abusive language toward junior staff, and was responsible for the departure of multiple team members. The post described the workplace as “traumatic” for new hires, accusing the manager of publicly berating employees and then disengaging from the team.
Company’s Response to the Incident
Krutrim, in response, confirmed that Somwanshi had been on personal leave before the incident. Reportedly, the company said he first requested time off on April 8, citing a need for rest, and his leave was extended on April 17 after he mentioned needing additional time to recover.
Reports in Business Standard and Financial Express quoted other former Krutrim employees who described similar experiences under Panuganti’s management. One ex-employee claimed to have quit without securing another job due to excessive work pressure and recalled experiencing suicidal thoughts. Another described verbal abuse during team calls, particularly targeting freshers, and said Panuganti lacked basic people management skills.
The incident has drawn comparisons to other cases of alleged workplace stress-induced deaths, including that of Anna Sebastian, a 26-year-old Ernst & Young employee whose family blamed her death by cardiac arrest on intense job-related stress. A Bajaj Finance staffer also reportedly left a suicide note holding workplace pressure and superiors accountable. Similarly, a young IT engineer in Kerala’s Kottayam district recently died by suicide amid reports of harassment and stress at work.
Somwanshi’s Academic Contribution
Somwanshi’s contributions during his academic career included the development of “Saathi,” a chatbot designed to assist users in accessing over 200 government welfare schemes. The tool supported regional dialects and was developed with support from the Melinda Gates Foundation, IISc, Oxford Brookes University, and other institutions.
As of now, an FIR has been registered, and investigations into the circumstances surrounding Somwanshi’s death are ongoing. Krutrim stated it is fully cooperating with authorities.
