Pramesh S Jain
A 47-year-old senior scientist with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA),under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), died by suicide after jumping from his apartment building in Seegehalli on October 21.
His family has alleged that severe work-related stress had taken a toll on his mental health.
The deceased, Sharad Katiyar,was working as Scientist ‘F’in the programming department of the ADA and was associated with the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk2 programme office.He lived with his family on the fourth floor of a residential complex in Seegehalli.
According to the complaint lodged by his family,Katiyar had been experiencing severe work-related stress for more than a month.
The family alleged that he had sought medical assistance at a private hospital,where he was diagnosed with a depressive episode,but that the workplace pressure continued.
On October 21,the day of the incident,Katiyar visited the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) for a psychiatric consultation and was prescribed medication.
Senior officer said that between 7.30 pm and 8 pm, Katiyar went to the landing between the fourth and fifth floors of the apartment building and jumped through a window.
He suffered critical injuries and was rushed by family members and residents to a private hospital in K.S.Halli, where he was declared dead on arrival.
Based on the family’s complaint,police registered an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS),2023.
Police inspected the scene on October 22 and conducted an inquest at the hospital mortuary.
Statements were recorded from his wife and parents, Suresh Chandra Katiyar and Sudha Katiyar.The investigation is continuing.
Krishna Rajendra,Director of Administration and Human Resources at ADA,said the organisation was unaware of any specific workplace-related problem faced by Katiyar.
“He was working in the LCA Mk2 programme office.If there was any such issue,we were not aware of it.I spoke to a few of his colleagues,and they also said they were not aware,”he said.
Rajendra said ADA had organised several programmes on mental stress management over the past year.While acknowledging that project deadlines could create pressure,he denied that employees were expected to work excessively long hours.
“Pressure exists for everyone when we have committed to a project timeline,but that does not mean working from 6 am to 10 pm.That was never the case.
Employees arrive at 8.30 am and left by 6 pm,”he said, adding that Katiyar had been attending the office regularly.
Rajendra said he had checked whether Katiyar had sought reimbursement for medical expenses,including outpatient treatment, but found no such application.
He said it was possible that health-related issues had also contributed to the incident,while clarifying that he could not say with certainty that the scientist had not faced work pressure.
Calling the incident unfortunate,Rajendra said the doors of the ADA Director and Director of Administration were always open to employees facing difficulties.
