Ola, Toxic Culture? The high-pressure world of Indian technology start-ups is facing uncomfortable scrutiny following the tragic death of K. Aravind, a thirty-eight-year-old homologation engineer at Ola Electric, who died by suicide on September 28, 2025.
-By Dr. Namrata Mishra Tiwari, Chief Editor, http://indiainput.com
What was initially recorded as a case of unnatural death has quickly escalated into a criminal investigation with the Bengaluru Police registering an FIR for abetment to suicide against Ola Electric CEO Bhavish Aggarwal, senior executive Subrat Kumar Das, and the company itself. This action was prompted by the discovery of a 28 page suicide note and a suspicious financial transaction post-mortem.
Ola Electric expressed sorrow, denied prior formal complaints, settled the dues post-death, and challenged the FIR in Karnataka High Court, where judges instructed police to avoid harassment during the preliminary investigation; this marks the second such incident at an Ola Group company in six months.
#BengaluruPolice register FIR against #OlaElectric CEO #BhavishAggarwal and a senior official under Section 108 of BNS in connection with the alleged suicide of the company’s engineer K Aravind.
Aravind’s 28-page note blames Aggarwal and senior officials of mental harassment,… pic.twitter.com/rycGa2ym11
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) October 20, 2025
Aravind’s suicide note reportedly contained serious allegations of relentless mental harassment, humiliation, and the withholding of his salary and dues by the named executives. His brother, Ashwin Kannan, subsequently lodged a formal complaint, which brought the focus onto a mysterious bank transfer. Two days after Aravind’s death, rupees 17,46,313 was transferred to his account via NEFT by the company, purportedly to clear his outstanding dues.
Kannan alleged that this posthumous payment was a clear attempt by the company to cover up financial irregularities and to frame his deceased brother to conceal their own mistakes. Based on this complaint and the contents of the suicide note, the Subramanyapura Police registered a case under Section 108 read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Second suicide at Ola within 6 months because of workplace harassment / pressure. pic.twitter.com/7CzPOpsY9L
— Ravi Handa (@ravihanda) October 20, 2025
The gravity of the allegations is compounded by the fact that this marks the second reported employee suicide at an Ola Group company in six months. Earlier in May, twenty-five-year-old AI Engineer Nikhil Somwanshi from Ola Krutrim also allegedly ended his life, citing a toxic work culture, extreme work pressure, and verbal abuse from a US-based manager. These two incidents have brought the work culture prevalent in the unicorn start-up ecosystem under a dark cloud.
Ola Electric, in its defense, issued a statement expressing profound sorrow over Aravind’s death and asserting its cooperation with the ongoing police investigation. However, the company firmly denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of prior complaints.
A company spokesperson clarified that Aravind, who had been with the Bengaluru headquarters for over three years, never raised any complaint or grievance regarding harassment and that his role did not involve any direct interaction with the top management, including the promoter, Bhavish Aggarwal. The transfer of rupees 17,46,313 was described as the “full and final settlement” facilitated for immediate family support.
Tweets— Брат (@1vinci6le) October 20, 2025
An FIR has been filed at Subramanya Police Station against Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal, Subrath Kumar Das, and others under BNS Sections 108 r/w 3(5) following the suicide of Ola engineer K. Aravind (38) on September 28.
The case, initially a UDR, was upgraded after a 28-page… pic.twitter.com/E1HcsumbrO
— Брат (@1vinci6le) October 20, 2025
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