The Subramanyapura police is investigating the alleged suicide of K Aravind (38) by consuming poison on September 28 at his home in Chikkallasandra. Aravind was a homologation engineer at the company’s Koramangala office.
The police has written to Ola seeking details not just about Aravind, but also other employees, to ascertain if there has been any deliberate delay in the payment of salaries and allowances to employees, as alleged in Aravind’s 28-page suicide note. The family has shared the note with the police.
Ola has not responded to an email seeking details of police queries.
The investigators have also written to the family asking them to furnish signature specimens of the victim from records he has previously signed to help them authenticate the suicide note. Officials said the investigators would subsequently send them to the Forensic Science Lab (FSL).
Though the suicide was reported on September 28, the police registered an FIR on October 6 after Ashwin Kannan filed a complaint based on the contents of his younger brother’s alleged suicide note.
The company transferring Rs 17,46,313 to Aravind’s bank account within days of his death, and vague responses from the company’s HR about the financial transactions prompted the family to seek police investigation, the FIR said.
The company, however, has said in a statement that the “full and final settlement” credited to his account was meant “to provide immediate support to the family.”
The FIR names Ola Electric’s head for vehicle homologations & regulations, Subrat Kumar Dash, and founder Bhavish Aggarwal, accusing them of ‘abetment to suicide’ under section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The company has said it was fully cooperating in the ongoing investigation, and remained committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and supportive workplace for all employees.
Aggarwal and Dash, however, don’t face any immediate threat from the police as the Karnataka High Court, on October 17, directed the police not to harass them in the guise of investigation.
Ola’s statement said Aravind had never raised any complaint or grievance regarding his employment or any harassment. Also, his role did not involve any direct interaction with the company’s top management, including the promoter.
