Ola Krutrim employee dies by suicide, company issues statement

Representative image

Krutrim, the AI startup backed by Ola's founder Bhavish Aggarwal, has confirmed the death of one of its employees, describing it as a "tragic passing".

The company identified the employee as Nikhil (Somwanshi) and said he was on personal leave at the time of the incident.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of one of our most talented young employees, Nikhil, on the 8th of May. Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with his family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” a Krutrim spokesperson said in an official statement.

Somwanshi joined the organisation in August 2024.

According to the company, Nikhil had requested time off citing the need for rest on April 8, which was promptly granted. He later requested an extension on April 17, saying he was feeling better but would benefit from additional time off. Krutrim said it extended his leave accordingly.

“As a company, we are heartbroken by this loss. Nikhil was a valued team member, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew and worked with him,” the spokesperson added. The company also said it is offering full support to Nikhil’s family and has been in touch with the authorities.

Online Allegations Surface
Meanwhile, an unverified Reddit post from a user claiming to be a former colleague alleged that Nikhil had been under immense work pressure.

The post, which has since gone viral on the r/IndianWorkplace subreddit, claims that Nikhil had been leading a project with limited support after two colleagues left the team. The author attributes the situation to "alleged poor managerial oversight" and a "toxic work environment", especially for freshers.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the claims made in the Reddit post. Krutrim has not responded directly to the allegations posted online.

(This story will be updated with more details)