FIR Filed After Family Accuses CEO and Senior Executive of Mental Harassment; ₹17 Lakh Credited Posthumously to Employee’s Account
Bengaluru | October 25, 2025 — Economy India News Desk: A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Ola Electric CEO Bhavish Aggarwal and senior executive Subrata Kumar Das in connection with the alleged suicide of an engineer employed with the company. The case has taken a serious turn after the deceased’s family accused Aggarwal and other officials of mental harassment and abetment to suicide.
The Incident
According to police reports, 38-year-old K. Aravind, an engineer working with Ola Electric since 2022, allegedly took his own life on September 28 in Bengaluru. Initially, the case was registered as an unnatural death. However, after investigators recovered a 28-page suicide note and based on the complaint filed by Aravind’s brother, police added new charges, including abetment of suicide under Section 108 of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).
The FIR, initially filed on October 6, did not name Bhavish Aggarwal. But following new evidence and the family’s insistence, Aggarwal’s name was officially included.
Family’s Allegations and Financial Trail
Aravind’s brother alleged that after the death, ₹17,46,313 was transferred to the deceased’s bank account on September 30 — two days after the incident. The amount was reportedly transferred via NEFT, raising further questions about the company’s actions following the engineer’s death.
“After my brother’s death, ₹17.46 lakh was credited to his account. When I asked the company, they told me to contact HR. Later, two company officials — Kritish Desai and Roshan — visited our home but offered no clear explanation,” said Aravind’s brother in his police statement.
The family also submitted the suicide note to the authorities, alleging that Aravind had been facing mental harassment, withheld salary incentives, and excessive work pressure.
What the Suicide Note Revealed
As per the FIR, Aravind’s note specifically mentioned Bhavish Aggarwal’s name, requesting the police to ensure he faces justice. “I want Bhavish Aggarwal to be punished by the police. I want justice,” the note reportedly stated.
Police said several pages in the note detail professional stress, workplace humiliation, and unmet salary commitments.
Police Investigation and Official Statement
DCP Anita B. Haddonnavar confirmed that the case has now been reclassified from unnatural death to abetment of suicide. She stated,
“Initially, we registered an unnatural death case. But after receiving the suicide note and additional statements from the family, a fresh FIR has been lodged under relevant sections.”
As of now, Ola Electric and Bhavish Aggarwal have not issued any official statement regarding the FIR.
Ola’s Previous Legal Troubles
This is not the first time Ola Electric has faced regulatory scrutiny. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) recently initiated an inquiry into insider trading and related-party transactions allegedly committed between October and December 2024.
According to NDTV’s report, Ola Electric is accused of violating key compliance norms. The company had earlier denied all allegations, calling them “baseless and misleading.”
Additionally, Ola had come under fire in February 2025 for allegedly inflating its sales data, claiming to have sold 25,000 electric two-wheelers and capturing a 28% market share — figures now under review.
Industry Reaction
The case has reignited the debate over toxic work culture in India’s fast-growing tech and mobility sectors. Industry observers note that increasing workload, performance-linked stress, and lack of mental health support are emerging as critical challenges in startups and electric vehicle firms.
What Lies Ahead
Police are currently reviewing digital evidence, email communications, and HR records from Ola Electric. Meanwhile, the family has demanded a judicial inquiry and compensation.
If proven guilty, those named in the FIR could face severe legal consequences under the new BNS provisions related to workplace harassment and abetment of suicide.
(Economy India)
