Humiliation by colleagues, harassment by 'online friend': Pune techie suicide case gets murkier
Image Used For Representational Purpose Only Family alleges humiliation at workplace Suicide note mentions harassment allegations Separate dispute also under scanner Wife’s illness added to
Image Used For Representational Purpose Only Family alleges humiliation at workplace Suicide note mentions harassment allegations Separate dispute also under scanner Wife’s illness added to distress, police say PUNE: A 48-year-old employee died by suicide at his residence in Pune’s Bhosari on June 2 after allegedly facing workplace harassment, difficulties in getting leave following a family bereavement, and stress over his wife’s chronic illness, police said.A suicide note recovered from his home allegedly named three people, following which Bhosari police registered a case of abetment to suicide against two women employees of IT firm and a man.According to the complaint filed by the victim’s 19-year-old son, the two women colleagues allegedly humiliated his father in front of other employees, reassigned important projects and gave him work outside his area of expertise.The complaint alleged that when the employee was unable to complete the assigned tasks, the colleagues threatened to give negative feedback about his performance.Police said the family also alleged that the victim faced difficulties while seeking leave after the death of the complainant’s grandfather.The victim had discussed these concerns with his family at home, police said.Senior Police Inspector Sandip Ghorpade said, “The case was registered on June 9 based on a suicide note, purportedly written by the victim.The note, found from his house, names two women colleagues and another person.It mentions that he was ending his life because of harassment by the trio.
Besides, a complaint was lodged by his son (19) naming and accusing the trio of subjecting him to mental harassment.”He said, “We have issued a notice to the company’s HR department asking them to conduct an inquiry against the two women officials named in the complaint and later secure their presence before us for investigation.”Police said the complaint also mentioned another dispute involving a couple whom the victim and his wife had been in contact with through a social media platform since 2024.According to the complaint, the issue allegedly began after the man’s wife moved abroad following differences between them.The complainant alleged that the man blamed the his parents for the separation and later started harassing his father.The man allegedly filed theft and cheating complaints against the victim, sent a legal notice and emailed allegedly defamatory content to his official email address.“The complainant stated that his father was under stress because of the harassment,” an officer said.Police said the victim’s wife was also suffering from a chronic illness.“His wife was also suffering from a chronic illness.
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