Ola Electric Challenges FIR Following Employee's Suicide Alleging Workplace Harassment and Exploitation

Aravind had been serving as a homologation engineer at Ola Electric since 2022.

Ola Electric has petitioned the Karnataka High Court to contest a First Information Report (FIR) filed against the company following the suicide of their 38-year-old employee, allegedly resulting from mental harassment and financial exploitation.

In an official statement released on Monday, the company stated that the deceased employee - A Aravind - "had not raised any complaint or grievance regarding this employment or any harassment." The statement further emphasized, "His role also did not involve any direct interaction with the company's top management, including the promoter."

"We have challenged the registration of the FIR before the Honorable Karnataka High Court and protective orders have been passed in favor of Ola Electric and its officials," the statement continued.

The employee left a suicide note behind in which he accused senior management, including Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal, of subjecting him to mental harassment and financial exploitation.

"We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate demise of our colleague, Aravind, and our thoughts remain with his family during this difficult time. Aravind had been associated with Ola Electric for over three and a half years and was based at our headquarters in Bangalore," a company spokesperson expressed.

The spokesperson added, "In order to provide immediate support to the family, the company promptly facilitated the full and final settlement to his bank account. Ola Electric is fully cooperating with the authorities in their ongoing investigation and remains committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and supportive workplace for all employees."

According to police reports, Aravind had worked as a homologation engineer at Ola Electric since 2022. On September 28, he consumed poison at his residence in Bengaluru's Chikkalasandra. He was immediately rushed to a hospital where he subsequently passed away later that day.

When speaking to reporters, Aravind's brother mentioned that a suicide note found at the residence named another engineer, Subrat Kumar Das, along with Aggarwal, accusing them of mental torture and withholding salary and allowances.

He revealed that a bank transfer of Rs 17,46,313 was made to the employee's account two days following his death. He also claimed that when he approached Ola for clarification, he received ambiguous responses from Das.