Ola Electric Mobility Limited has issued an official response following media reports and police proceedings that have linked its CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal, and senior executive Subrat Kumar Dash to the death of an employee, K Aravind, who allegedly died by suicide in Bengaluru last month.
According to reports, the Bengaluru Police filed a case on October 6, 2025, against Aggarwal, Dash, and Ola Electric, after a complaint by Aravind’s brother alleged workplace harassment and financial irregularities. The complaint mentioned a 28-page handwritten note recovered from Aravind’s residence, in which he reportedly spoke about workplace stress and non-payment of dues.
Aravind, a 38-year-old engineer who had been working with Ola Electric’s homologation department since 2022, allegedly consumed poison on September 28 and later passed away at Maharaja Agrasena Hospital. Initially treated as an unnatural death, the case was later reclassified under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to abetment of suicide.
Adding to the family’s suspicion, a ₹17.46 lakh transfer was made to Aravind’s bank account two days after his death, which his relatives described as unusual and suspicious.
In its regulatory filing dated October 21, Ola Electric expressed deep condolences to Aravind’s family, stating that during his employment, he had not reported any grievances regarding workplace issues or management. The company clarified that it processed his final settlement immediately to support the family and emphasized that Aravind’s position did not involve direct interaction with the top management team.
Ola Electric also said the FIR has been legally challenged before the Karnataka High Court, which has granted protective relief to the officials named in the complaint. The company reaffirmed that it is fully cooperating with the authorities and that the matter is under investigation.
The company further stated that no chargesheet has been filed so far, adding that the incident does not qualify as a material event under the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. Ola assured that any further updates will be disclosed to the stock exchanges as per legal requirements.
This tragic case follows a similar incident in May 2025, when Nikhil Somwanshi, a machine learning engineer at Krutrim, Ola’s artificial intelligence (AI) division, reportedly died by suicide. The company later clarified that he was on personal leave at the time of his death.
These developments have reignited discussions around employee mental health, corporate accountability, and workplace culture within India’s rapidly growing startup and technology ecosystem.
Editor’s Note:
The Indian Startup Times expresses heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of K Aravind. Such incidents serve as a stark reminder of the importance of mental health awareness, compassionate leadership, and effective support systems in the workplace.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please reach out for professional help. Support is available at AASRA (91-9820466726) and the Vandrevala Foundation Helpline (1860 266 2345 / 9999 666 555). Remember — you are not alone.
