In a deeply troubling incident, 25-year-old Nikhil Somwanshi, a machine learning engineer at Ola-owned AI startup Krutrim, was found dead in Bengaluru’s Agara Lake on May 8. Allegations now point to toxic work conditions and an abusive manager as key contributors to his suspected suicide.
Somwanshi had joined Krutrim in August 2024 after completing his master’s from the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc), where he excelled with a 9.30 GPA. However, just months into his job, multiple reports suggest he was overwhelmed with excessive responsibilities left behind by departing colleagues — many of whom allegedly quit due to the toxic leadership of US-based manager Rajkiran Panuganti.
A Reddit user, claiming to be a former Krutrim employee, accused Panuganti of using “traumatic” and demeaning language, fostering a hostile environment. The user also alleged that the abuse continued even after news of Somwanshi’s death emerged. Several employees, speaking anonymously, echoed similar experiences, describing a pattern of verbal mistreatment and aggressive behavior.
Krutrim responded by stating Somwanshi had taken leave in early April for personal reasons and had extended his break for recovery. They expressed sorrow and said they are fully cooperating with the investigation.
The tragedy is drawing comparisons to earlier high-profile cases — like Anna Sebastian from Ernst & Young and a Bajaj Finance employee — where toxic workplaces were linked to employee deaths.
As the FIR probe continues, the incident reignites urgent conversations around workplace mental health, managerial accountability, and corporate responsibility.
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