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 stories quoting unnamed staff that the engineer died by suicide as a result of poisonous work tradition and an exploitative supervisor.
The physique of the engineer, Nikhil Somwanshi, was discovered within the lake on Could 8, and a primary data 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 excellent scholar with a 9.30 GPA, he was allegedly burdened with the obligations of a number of former colleagues who resigned as a result of conduct of their US-based supervisor, Rajkiran Panuganti.
In a Reddit submit, a consumer ‘Kirgawakutzo’ alleged Mr Panuganti routinely used “traumatic” language towards new recruits, fostered a hostile environment, and created a poisonous work surroundings that led to a number of crew resignations.
A Krutrim spokesperson stated the corporate was heartbroken by the loss and is cooperating with the authorities. Somwanshi was on go away on the time, the spokesperson stated.
“He reached out to his supervisor on April 8, expressing that he wanted relaxation, and was promptly granted private day without work. Later, on April 17, he shared that he was feeling higher however would profit from further relaxation, and his go away was prolonged accordingly,” the corporate stated by way of e-mail.
The Reddit consumer ‘Kirgawakutzo’ alleged the supervisor continued to mistreat employees even after studying of the engineer’s loss of life.
Krutrim staff, requesting anonymity, described the supervisor as having a longstanding status for aggressive and demeaning conduct, typically belittling junior staff and labelling them incompetent.
A report by Business Standard quoting a former Krutrim worker “corroborated the allegations and claimed to have resigned with out one other job supply in hand as a result of intense work strain, recalling feeling suicidal.”
A Financial Express report quoted one other former worker – who labored with the supervisor Rajkiran Panuganti – as saying, “Rajkiran has no individuals administration expertise. 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 be aware held his superiors and office strain accountable.
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