Ola Engineer’s Death Sparks Legal and Ethical Debate: A Wake-Up Call on Corporate Mental Health

The Incident: Allegations of Harassment and Financial Exploitation

A shocking case from Bengaluru has raised troubling questions about workplace culture and mental health in India’s corporate sector.
An Ola Electric engineer, aged 38, allegedly died by suicide on September 28, 2025, after consuming poison at his residence. The engineer, who worked as a Homologation Engineer at Ola Electric since 2022, reportedly left behind a 28-page handwritten note accusing his superiors — including Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal and Subrat Kumar Das, Head of Vehicle Homologations and Regulations — of mental harassment and financial exploitation.

His friends discovered him in distress and rushed him to a hospital, but he succumbed the same day. Initially, an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) was filed. Later, his brother found the suicide note and approached the police, leading to a formal FIR against Aggarwal, Das, and other senior officials.

The FIR and Legal Proceedings

The Karnataka Police registered an FIR under Sections 108 (abetment of suicide) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — the newly enacted criminal code replacing the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The note reportedly detailed incidents of mental torture, withheld salaries, and continuous humiliation. It also mentioned that two days after the engineer’s death, a bank transfer of ₹17.46 lakh was made to his account, raising further suspicion among his family members.

The family alleged that the transfer was an attempt to settle dues posthumously, which contradicted earlier claims by the company that the deceased had raised no formal grievances.

Company’s Response and Legal Action

In a statement, Ola Electric expressed condolences but denied all allegations, stating:

“The employee never raised any complaint or grievance regarding his employment or harassment. His role did not involve direct interaction with top management, including the promoter.”

Ola further added that the payment of dues was part of the “final settlement process” and that the company was fully cooperating with the authorities. It also moved the Karnataka High Court challenging the FIR filed against Bhavish Aggarwal.

Corporate Workload and Mental Health: A Systemic Crisis

The tragedy reignites debate on the toxic work culture, excessive workloads, and mental health neglect prevalent in Indian multinational corporations (MNCs) and tech startups.

While India’s tech ecosystem has seen explosive growth, employee well-being has often taken a back seat to performance targets and investor-driven deadlines. Studies have shown a surge in work-related stress, burnout, and suicides among young professionals — particularly in high-pressure sectors like IT and electric mobility.

In most MNCs, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) or mental health helplines exist only on paper, lacking accessibility, confidentiality, or professional follow-up. The absence of statutory mental health safeguards within the corporate legal framework leaves employees vulnerable.

Legal and Constitutional Framework

Relevant Statutes

  1. Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) – Criminalizes abetment of suicide, holding accountable any individual whose actions or harassment intentionally drive another to take their life.

  2. Factories Act, 1948 – Section 87A deals with hazardous work conditions; while not directly addressing mental health, it obligates employers to ensure safe working environments.

  3. Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 – Envisions workplace safety but lacks concrete mental health provisions.

  4. Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 – Recognizes the right to mental healthcare and mandates protection of dignity and privacy of persons with mental illness. It also obligates governments and institutions to promote mental well-being.

Constitutional Provisions

  1. Article 21 – Right to Life and Personal Liberty: The Supreme Court has consistently held that the right to life includes the right to live with dignity, which encompasses mental and emotional well-being.

  2. Article 42 – Directive Principles of State Policy: Encourages humane working conditions and maternity relief.

  3. Article 43 – Right to a Living Wage and Decent Conditions of Work.

Judicial Precedents

  1. P. Rathinam v. Union of India (1994) – Recognized that the right to life under Article 21 includes the right to live with dignity, and societal or workplace harassment leading to suicide violates this principle.

  2. State of Punjab v. Gurmit Singh (1996) – The Court observed that the dignity of individuals must be preserved in all institutions, including workplaces.

  3. Sharda v. Dharmpal (2003) – The Supreme Court emphasized the state’s duty to protect mental health under Article 21.

  4. NIT Suresh v. State of Karnataka (2021) – The Karnataka High Court highlighted that mental harassment in professional environments could amount to abetment if it leads to suicide.

Need for Corporate Mental Health Reforms

This case underlines the urgent need for legal and organizational reform. There is no binding corporate law requiring mental health audits, psychological risk assessments, or counseling support in India’s private sector.

The government could consider:

  • Making mental wellness programs mandatory under the Occupational Safety Code.

  • Introducing a Corporate Mental Health Compliance Certificate (CMHC) for startups and MNCs.

  • Setting up independent grievance redressal cells within corporate entities.

  • Strengthening the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) framework to also address non-sexual mental harassment.

Conclusion: From Tragedy to Accountability

The Ola Electric case is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a larger crisis — the growing mental health epidemic in India’s corporate corridors.

While the investigation will determine legal culpability, it is a moral imperative for both companies and policymakers to ensure that profit never comes at the cost of psychological safety.

As India continues to emerge as a global tech hub, it must also become a nation that values empathy, balance, and mental well-being within its workplaces.


Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

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