A case of abetment to suicide has been registered against Ola Electric CEO Bhavish Aggarwal, senior official Subrat Kumar Das, and other company representatives, following the tragic death of a 38-year-old engineer employed at the company’s headquarters in Bengaluru.
K Aravind, who worked as a Homologation Engineer at Ola Electric from 2022, died on September 28 after allegedly consuming poison at his residence in Chikkalasandra. Though he was rushed to Maharaja Agrasen Hospital by friends, he did not survive. Initially treated as an Unnatural Death Report (UDR), the case took a serious turn after a handwritten note surfaced and a large financial transfer was made posthumously.
28-Page Suicide Note Sparks Allegations
During a search of Aravind’s room, police recovered a detailed 28-page handwritten note addressed to his brother. In the note, Aravind reportedly accused Bhavish Aggarwal and Subrat Kumar Das of sustained mental harassment, salary denial, and immense workplace pressure factors he claimed drove him to take his own life.
The engineer’s brother, Ashwin Kannan, later filed a complaint alleging that Aravind had been repeatedly harassed by his superiors, denied rightful payments, and mentally tortured. The complaint mentioned that Aravind’s salary and allowances were withheld, causing him severe distress.
Following this, a First Information Report (FIR) was officially registered on October 6 at the Subramanyapura police station under Sections 108 (abetment of suicide) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, naming Bhavish Aggarwal, Subrat Kumar Das, and Ola Electric as accused.
Suspicious Transaction Raises Questions
Adding further suspicion, the family discovered that a sum of Rs 17.46 lakh had been transferred to Aravind’s bank account via NEFT on September 30 two days after his death. When the family sought clarification from the company, they were allegedly met with unclear and inconsistent responses.
According to officials, company representatives Kratesh Desai, Paramesh, and Roshan visited the family but failed to provide a credible explanation about the financial transaction. The family has termed the transfer “suspicious” and believes it could be an attempt to cover up internal misconduct.
Company Denies Allegations, Files Legal Challenge
In response to the FIR, Ola Electric issued an official statement expressing condolences and refuting the allegations. “We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate demise of our colleague, Aravind, and our thoughts remain with his family during this difficult time,” a company spokesperson said.
The statement emphasised that Aravind had worked with the company for over three and a half years and was stationed at the headquarters in Bangalore. “During his tenure, Aravind never raised any complaint or grievance regarding his employment or any harassment. His role also did not involve any direct interaction with the company’s top management, including the promoter,” the statement clarified.
Furthermore, Ola Electric stated that the company had immediately transferred Aravind’s full and final settlement amount to his bank account as a measure of support to his family. The company has also challenged the FIR before the Karnataka High Court. “Protective orders have been passed in favor of Ola Electric and its officials,” the statement said.
Investigation Underway
Police have confirmed that further investigation is ongoing. Officials stated that they are closely examining the contents of the suicide note, financial transactions, and testimonies from family and company staff. Authorities are looking into whether the harassment and alleged financial exploitation described in Aravind’s note can be substantiated with further evidence.
Ola Electric has maintained its stance that it is cooperating fully with the police. “Ola Electric is fully cooperating with the authorities in their ongoing investigation and remains committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and supportive workplace for all employees,” the company said.
