A serious legal case has been filed against the founder of Ola Electric and other senior company officials in connection with the death of a 38-year-old engineer. Police in Bengaluru confirmed the registration of the case after the deceased’s brother accused them of ‘harassment,’ according to reports on Monday, October 20, 2025.
The engineer, identified as K. Aravind, had been working as a Homologation Engineer at Ola Electric’s Koramangala office since 2022. He tragically passed away following an alleged suicide attempt at his Chikkalasandra apartment on September 28, 2025. Despite being rushed to Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, he later succumbed to his injuries.
A critical piece of evidence recovered from Aravind’s room is a 28-page handwritten note. In this note, he purportedly detailed experiences of ‘mental harassment’ and alleged non-payment of salary and allowances by his superiors, which he claimed led him to take his own life.
Based on this note, Aravind’s brother, Ashwin Kannan, lodged a formal complaint. He specifically named Ola Electric founder Bhavish Aggarwal, Head of Homologation Engineering Subrat Kumar Das, and other company officials. The complaint alleges that these individuals subjected Aravind to ‘sustained workplace harassment and withheld his salary and dues, causing him severe distress.’
Further raising suspicions, a sum of ₹17.46 lakh was transferred to Aravind’s bank account via NEFT on September 30, 2025 — two days after his death. The family has labeled this transaction as ‘suspicious,’ stating that the company’s representatives provided ‘unclear explanations’ when questioned, suggesting a potential ‘cover up of internal lapses.’
In response to the complaint, a case was registered on October 6 at Subramanyapura police station. The charges against Bhavish Aggarwal, Subrat Kumar Das, and others include Sections 108 (abetment of suicide) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The police investigation into the matter is ongoing.
Ola Electric, through a company spokesperson, expressed deep sadness over Aravind’s ‘unfortunate demise’ and extended condolences to his family. The company stated that Aravind had been associated with Ola Electric for over three and a half years and never raised any complaints or grievances about his employment or any harassment during his tenure. They also clarified that his role did not involve direct interaction with the company’s top management, including the promoter.
The company also noted that they ‘promptly facilitated the full and final settlement to his bank account’ as immediate support for the family. Furthermore, Ola Electric confirmed that it has challenged the registration of the First Information Report (FIR) before the Karnataka High Court, where protective orders have been issued in favor of the company and its officials. They reiterated their commitment to ‘fully cooperating with the authorities in their ongoing investigation and remain committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and supportive workplace for all employees.’”