A 42-year-old employee of Bajaj Finance, Tarun Saxena, died by suicide on Sunday, citing unbearable work pressure and mental harassment from his superiors. Before ending his life, he locked his wife and two children in a room to shield them from the tragic event.
The Suicide Note and Tarun’s Last Words
In a heartfelt suicide note, Tarun described the immense pressure he faced at work. He detailed his struggle to meet recovery targets despite giving his best effort and the emotional toll of constant humiliation by his seniors. He revealed the toll on his well-being, explaining that he hadn’t slept in 45 days, had barely eaten, and felt mentally drained. Tarun apologized to his family for leaving them and asked them to care for one another after his passing.
The note also contained a touching message to his parents. “Mummy, Papa, I never asked you for anything, but I am doing so now. Please build the second floor so that my family can live comfortably,” he wrote, expressing concern for the future of his wife and children. NDTV quoted another portion of the note where Tarun said, “I am agitated about the future. I have lost my ability to think. I am going.”
The Discovery of His Body
Tarun’s body was found by the house help, along with the suicide note addressed to his wife, Megha. Authorities confirmed that Tarun had used a dupatta to take his life. Superintendent of Police (City), Gyanendra Kumar Singh, told the news agency PTI, “Tarun Saxena was working as an area manager with Bajaj Finance. He committed suicide on Sunday. His note revealed that he had been subjected to intense pressure by his seniors to meet unreasonable targets.”
Family’s Allegations of Mental Torture
Tarun’s family has accused his superiors at Bajaj Finance of “mental torture,” which they believe led to his tragic death. His cousin, Gaurav Saxena, alleged that Tarun was verbally harassed during a virtual meeting held just a day before the incident.
“On Saturday morning, he was mentally tortured by both his regional and national managers during a virtual conference. They hurled verbal abuse at him, causing him immense frustration. He was deeply disturbed after the meeting and struggled with his emotions throughout Saturday night,” Gaurav told reporters. “On Sunday, overwhelmed by the pressure, he took the extreme step.”
Gaurav further explained that Tarun was assigned particularly challenging areas for debt collection, including Moth and Talbehat, which are rural locations. “He was told that if he failed to meet the targets, he would have to pay the shortfall from his pocket. This only added to his stress, making the task nearly impossible for him.”
Bajaj Finance’s Silence on Work Pressure
As of now, Bajaj Finance has not issued any response or statement regarding the incident, or the serious allegations of workplace harassment made by Tarun’s family.
Conclusion
Tarun Saxena’s death highlights the harsh realities of workplace stress and mental health challenges faced by employees. His family holds Bajaj Finance responsible, alleging that relentless pressure, unreasonable expectations, and verbal abuse from his superiors ultimately led to his tragic death. The incident raises critical concerns about employee well-being, mental health support, and the accountability of organizations in handling workplace stress.