The tragic death of a 25-year-old software engineer in Pune’s Hinjewadi IT hub has sparked serious concerns over alleged workplace stress and a toxic corporate environment. Abhilasha Bhausaheb Kothimbire, a young techie from Shrigonda in Ahilyanagar district, was found dead in her residential society in the early hours of May 31. Her family claims that persistent work pressure, overtime demands, and job insecurity contributed to her suspected suicide.
According to police officials, Kothimbire’s body was discovered around 7 am on the premises of The Crown Greens Society in Hinjewadi, a high-rise residential complex. She was identified after her two-wheeler and car were traced to the building’s parking area.
“No clear reason in suicide note,” say police
Senior Police Inspector Kanhaiya Thorat of Hinjewadi Police Station confirmed that an accidental death report has been registered. “CCTV footage shows that Abhilasha arrived at the society at around 4:38 am on her two-wheeler. She allegedly jumped from the 21st floor. A suicide note was recovered, but it did not mention any specific reason,” Thorat told reporters.
He added, “The investigation is ongoing. If the family files an official complaint alleging workplace pressure or harassment, we will investigate the company and take necessary action.”
Family alleges overwork, isolation, and fear of layoffs
Abhilasha had been working at an IT company located on Senapati Bapat Road. Her cousin, Shashi Raykar, who spoke to The Indian Express, claimed that Abhilasha had been under immense pressure to keep up with new technologies and workloads in her new role as a front-end developer.
“Immediately after graduation, she joined as a full-stack engineer in Hinjewadi but remained on the bench for nearly two years. She didn’t get any practical exposure, which deeply affected her confidence,” Raykar explained. “She finally switched jobs in October last year, but the new role came with unrealistic expectations and an unrelenting schedule.”
Raykar further revealed that the young engineer often worked overtime and spent weekends learning additional skills to meet expectations. “She lost weight, became withdrawn, and gradually slipped into depression. She described the workplace as toxic, said colleagues were unhelpful, and she felt isolated. She had even opted to work from home for the entire month of May because she couldn’t take the office environment anymore,” he said.
In addition to her mental health struggles, Abhilasha was reportedly anxious about job security. “Some of the company’s projects had been transferred to another IT firm, and there was talk of layoffs. She was scared she’d be let go. She had gifted a car to her father just three months ago and was worried about EMI payments if she lost her job,” said Raykar.
Final call gave no warning
On the evening of May 30, just hours before the incident, Abhilasha spoke to her parents over the phone. “She sounded cheerful. There was no hint of distress or worry. We were even discussing her marriage plans,” Raykar added.
The company denies allegations
Responding to the allegations, the Human Resources head of Abhilasha’s company issued a statement denying any toxic work culture or undue pressure. “We are a mid-sized firm with a strong focus on work-life balance. Abhilasha was a high-performing employee who never raised any issues during her eight months with us,” the statement read.
It further added, “She had been working from home since mid-April due to health issues including a B12 deficiency, and we granted her leave without any restrictions. As for the concerns about layoffs, while some projects were reassigned to other IT companies, that is routine in our industry. There were no discussions about reducing staff. We categorically reject any claims suggesting our company environment caused her distress.”
Ongoing Investigation
As the investigation continues, police say they are keeping all lines of inquiry open. “If there is any credible information linking her workplace to the incident, we will act accordingly,” assured Inspector Thorat.
Meanwhile, Abhilasha’s death has reignited debates around mental health awareness and working conditions in India’s competitive IT sector, especially for young professionals navigating intense expectations and rapid technological shifts with little support.
