Ola’s Bhavish Aggarwal booked after employee dies by suicide, leaves 28-page note alleging harassment by superiors

In Bengaluru, the police have filed a criminal case against Bhavish Aggarwal, founder and CEO of Ola Electric, and other senior executives following the death of one of the company’s engineers. The deceased, 38-year-old K Aravind, who had been working as a homologation engineer at the company’s Koramangala facility since 2022, is reported to have died by suicide on September 28. 

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At the heart of the case is a 28-page handwritten note found in Aravind’s room. In that note he allegedly accused senior management, including Bhavish Aggarwal and head of homologation engineering Subrat Kumar Das, of mental harassment, undue pressure at work, and failure to pay salaries and other allowances. The family further flagged a transaction of ₹17.46 lakh into Aravind’s bank account two days after his death as suspicious. 

The Bengaluru police registered the FIR on October 6 under Sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, naming Aggarwal, Das and other officials of Ola Electric. 

In response, Ola Electric issued a statement expressing sorrow over Aravind’s death. The company said that during his more than three-and-a-half years tenure, Aravind did not raise any complaint or grievance related to harassment or employment conditions and that his role did not involve direct interaction with the top-management. The company also mentioned that it had facilitated his full and final settlement payment. The firm added that it is challenging the FIR in the Karnataka High Court and that protective orders have been granted in favour of the company and its officials.

This incident has put fresh spotlight on workplace culture, employee welfare and corporate accountability in India’s tech and manufacturing sectors. If investigations find the allegations in the note to be valid, it could lead to significant legal and reputational consequences for the company and its leadership.