Saurabh Kumar Ladhha, a 25-year-old consultant at McKinsey & Company’s Mumbai office, tragically died by suicide, leaping from the 9th floor of a building in Matunga. The police attributed his death to work pressure. Ladhha, a graduate of IIT Madras with a degree in chemical engineering and an MBA from IIM Calcutta, held several certifications, including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1, and had a background as an NCC cadet.
Police said that around 11.15 pm on February 23, Ladda allegedly jumped from the balcony of his ninth-floor apartment in Wadala where he was staying with other flatmates. His parents are in Pune, they said. “He had gone to Ahmedabad for work and after he returned around 10.30 pm, he allegedly went to the balcony and jumped,” said an officer.
Investigators have learnt that Ladda last spoke to his girlfriend, where he mentioned the pressure he was facing at workplace. “We have also come across a few messages in which he is talking about work pressure,” said an officer.
For three years, he was a member of the Harvard Business Review Ascend select program. Ladhha’s corporate journey began with summer internships at Cipla in 2018 and Piramal Pharma Solutions while studying at IIT. He joined McKinsey & Company as a junior analyst in August 2022. Known for his supportive nature, his LinkedIn profile, followed by over 15,000 users, reflects his encouraging demeanor, often celebrating others’ accomplishments.
The police investigation revealed that Ladhha had returned from a work trip to Ahmedabad on the day of the incident. He arrived home around 10:30 pm and jumped from the balcony at approximately 11:15 pm. Staying with friends in a Wadala apartment, his body was discovered by the watchman, who then informed his roommates. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead before admission, and the hospital registered the case as an ‘accidental death.’ According to the police, Ladhha’s final conversation was with his significant other, during which he expressed the work-related pressure he was experiencing.
Police said that they have recorded the statements of his flatmates and parents as well. “We are also calling seniors and colleagues at his workplace who were part of the project to understand the pressure he was under and also to identify the situation he was in,” said a senior police officer.