Authorities in San Francisco have officially classified the death of Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI software developer, as a suicide. However, his family strongly disagrees with this conclusion, alleging that critical aspects of the investigation were overlooked and suggesting possible foul play. Mother Poornima Rao took to X (formerly Twitter) to claim that the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) wrote “inaccurate information” and that she “will sue them.”
What Happened To Bajaji?
Balaji, 26, was discovered dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26, 2024, with a gunshot wound to the head. Law enforcement promptly ruled the case as a suicide, but his parents, Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy, argue that the circumstances surrounding his death warrant further scrutiny. They suspect his passing may be connected to his whistleblowing activities against OpenAI.
The former OpenAI employee had departed from the company in August 2023. Two months later, in October, he published an article accusing the organisation of copyright violations. Just a month after the piece was made public, he was found dead—a timeline his family finds deeply concerning.
What Did Balaji’s Family Claim?
Despite these findings, Balaji’s family remains unconvinced. They have pointed to alleged discrepancies in the police investigation, including missing CCTV footage from his apartment complex, an absence of a suicide note, and questionable blood spatter patterns. Balaji’s mother, Poornima Ramarao, voiced her frustration via a tweet, stating that the autopsy report contained inaccuracies and that law enforcement had failed to retrieve crucial security footage.
SFPD writes inaccurate information in
Autopsy and Police report . They have never retrieved CCTV footage from leasing office . We need report from police.
We are only requesting transparent investigation.@elonmusk @kash_patel @MarioNawfal
— Poornima Rao (@RaoPoornima) February 15, 2025
Commenting on her post, user Liz4SF wrote, “You should file an ethics complaint that there’s a conflict of interest, that the sfpd chief’s boss (the mayor), is also best friends with Sam Altman.” To this, she responded, “Thanks. We will sue them.”
Thanks. We will sue them
— Poornima Rao (@RaoPoornima) February 16, 2025
ALSO READ: Suchir Balaji’s Mother Says She Used ChatGPT To Analyse Son’s Death
Determined to challenge the official ruling, Balaji’s parents hired private investigators and filed a lawsuit against the San Francisco police on January 31, 2025, demanding full access to the case report. Despite these efforts, the San Francisco police and medical examiner reaffirmed their findings on February 16, 2025. Their report cited several factors supporting the suicide conclusion, including a registered firearm, gunshot residue on his hands, internet searches related to self-harm, and the presence of alcohol and amphetamines in his system.
The case has sparked widespread debate online, with high-profile figures, including Elon Musk, questioning the suicide ruling. Adding to the controversy, Balaji’s mother recently appeared on the Tucker Carlson Show, where she further criticised the investigation.
With law enforcement having closed the case, it remains uncertain whether Balaji’s family will succeed in obtaining further scrutiny into his death. They continue to review the latest findings and may push for additional legal action in pursuit of what they believe to be the truth.
