Engineer from Ola’s AI Unit Found Dead; IISc Alumnus Nikhil Somvanshi’s Case Opens Pandora’s Box on Workplace Harassment
Bengaluru: In a chilling development that has sent shockwaves through Bengaluru’s tech circles, the death of 25-year-old engineer Nikhil Somvanshi, whose body was discovered in Agara Lake on May 8, has now taken a disturbing turn with allegations of workplace harassment and mental pressure emerging from multiple fronts.
Nikhil, who was employed at Kritrim, the artificial intelligence and machine learning division of Ola, was reportedly under immense mental stress at the time of his alleged suicide.
“Nikhil was battling relentless pressure from his manager. Many of us left for the same reason,” claimed a former Kritrim employee, triggering a wider debate on mental health and toxic work culture in India’s startup ecosystem.
Who Was Nikhil Somvanshi?
Nikhil was not just another techie — he was a brilliant mind, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and had joined Kritrim in August last year. He had been on leave during the time of the tragic incident, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding investigation.
“He was a quiet genius. None of us imagined this,” said one of his IISc batchmates.
Case Escalates After Online Outrage
Despite the incident taking place over two weeks ago, the matter resurfaced forcefully on social media platforms like Reddit, where users began sharing screenshots, insider information, and alleged patterns of hostile management practices at Kritrim.
This surge in public interest has now resulted in a formal FIR being filed, with authorities set to investigate allegations of abuse of authority, mental harassment, and extreme work pressure within the company.
Company Responds, But Questions Remain
In an official statement, Kritrim stated:
“We are deeply saddened by Nikhil’s untimely passing. We are extending full cooperation to the investigating authorities and stand with his family during this difficult time.”
However, the company’s reassurances have done little to quell the growing storm online, where multiple former employees are beginning to speak out, alleging that “Nikhil’s death wasn’t a one-off — it was a symptom of a toxic system.”
Mental Health in Tech: Time for Introspection
This incident is being seen as yet another reminder of the intense pressure cooker environment that young professionals face in India’s high-growth tech companies.
“It’s not just about one individual. It’s a larger culture of glorifying burnout and ignoring mental health,” said a Bengaluru-based HR consultant.
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