Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal, exec booked after employee names them in suicide note

The Bengaluru police has booked Ola Electric’s head for vehicle homologations & regulations, Subrat Kumar Dash, and founder Bhavish Aggarwal in connection with the suicide of their colleague K Aravind.

A homologation engineer at the company's Koramangala office, 38-year-old Aravind ended his life on September 28 by consuming poison. His friends rushed him to a hospital near his house in Chikkalasandra on learning about the situation.

He, however, breathed his last at the hospital.


His brother Ashwin Kannan filed a complaint with the Subramanyapura police after he found a 28-page suicide note by his brother, alleging workplace harassment and denial of his salary dues and other allowances by Dash and Aggarwal.

The complainant said the company had, in two days after his death, transferred Rs 17,46,313 to his deceased brother’s bank account, raising suspicions of a cover-up attempt.

Based on the complaint, the police has registered a case of ‘abetment to suicide’ under section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, against Dash, Aggarwal and other unnamed people.

Ola Electric has challenged the FIR before the Karnataka High Court. The company said the court has passed protective orders in its favour.

“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,” the electric vehicle maker said in a statement.

It added that during his tenure, Aravind never raised any complaint or grievance regarding his employment or any harassment. His role also did not involve any direct interaction with the company’s top management, including the promoter.

“In order to provide immediate support to the family, the company promptly facilitated the full and final settlement. 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,” the statement added.