Practically two weeks after the physique of a 25-year-old machine studying engineer of an AI agency was present in Bengaluru’s Agara Lake, allegations have surfaced on Reddit and media reviews quoting unnamed staff that the engineer died by suicide as a consequence of poisonous work tradition and an exploitative supervisor.
The physique of the engineer, Nikhil Somwanshi, was discovered within the lake on Might 8, and a primary info report (FIR) was filed to look into the matter.
Somwanshi joined Krutrim, an AI firm owned by ride-hailing app Ola, in August 2024 as a machine studying engineer, shortly after finishing his grasp’s diploma at Bengaluru’s Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
An impressive scholar with a 9.30 GPA, he was allegedly burdened with the tasks of a number of former colleagues who resigned as a result of conduct of their US-based supervisor, Rajkiran Panuganti.
In a Reddit publish, a person ‘Kirgawakutzo’ alleged Mr Panuganti routinely used “traumatic” language towards new recruits, fostered a hostile ambiance, and created a poisonous work setting that led to a number of staff resignations.
A Krutrim spokesperson mentioned the corporate was heartbroken by the loss and is cooperating with the authorities. Somwanshi was on go away on the time, the spokesperson mentioned.
“He reached out to his supervisor on April 8, expressing that he wanted relaxation, and was promptly granted private break day. Later, on April 17, he shared that he was feeling higher however would profit from extra relaxation, and his go away was prolonged accordingly,” the corporate mentioned by way of electronic mail.
The Reddit person ‘Kirgawakutzo’ alleged the supervisor continued to mistreat workers even after studying of the engineer’s loss of life.
Krutrim staff, requesting anonymity, described the supervisor as having a longstanding popularity for aggressive and demeaning habits, typically belittling junior staff and labelling them incompetent.
A report by Enterprise Customary quoting a former Krutrim worker “corroborated the allegations and claimed to have resigned with out one other job supply in hand as a consequence of intense work stress, recalling feeling suicidal.”
A Monetary Categorical report quoted one other former worker – who labored with the supervisor Rajkiran Panuganti – as saying, “Rajkiran has no individuals administration abilities. He shouts at staff and disappears. The verbal abuse in conferences was traumatic.”
The Krutrim case has parallels to the loss of life of Anna Sebastian, a 26-year-old worker at Ernst & Younger, who suffered cardiac arrest; her household attributed it to intense job stress and extreme working hours.
A 42-year-old Bajaj Finance worker who died by suicide had in a word held his superiors and office stress accountable.