NATIONAL: Mysterious Death of Suchir Balaji: CCTV Image Emerges Before Tragic End
The untimely and suspicious death of Indian-origin researcher Suchir Balaji (26), who formerly worked at OpenAI, has sparked significant controversy. A year after his passing, new developments have emerged, with his mother, Poornima Rao, sharing a CCTV image from the night of his death. The image shows Suchir carrying a food parcel while entering a lift, raising further questions about the circumstances of his demise.
CCTV Image Raises Questions
Poornima Rao posted the CCTV footage snapshot taken at 7:30 PM on the day of Suchir’s death. She claimed that despite reviewing the footage, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) ruled the case as suicide, citing despair as the cause. According to their findings, a toxicology report from an autopsy conducted three days after his death suggested a high drug dosage in his system. However, Poornima alleged that a separate test commissioned by her contradicted the official findings. She is now awaiting a toxicologist’s report to clarify the inconsistencies.
Allegations of a Long-Planned Murder
Poornima Rao further alleged that Suchir’s death was not a suicide, but a planned murder that had been orchestrated for a long time. She claimed that the apartment garage and elevators in his San Francisco residence lacked CCTV cameras, and even the surrounding cameras were either non-functional or missing. This raised suspicions about possible foul play in her son’s tragic demise.
Incident and Initial Investigation
Suchir Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26, 2023. However, details about his death only surfaced later. Initially, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) labeled the case as suicide following their primary investigation. Unconvinced by the official findings, Poornima Rao pursued a legal battle to seek justice. She hired a private investigator and arranged for a second autopsy, which, according to her, produced results different from the official report.
Concerns Over Investigation Process
Poornima Rao expressed concern that law enforcement officials did not consult apartment staff regarding CCTV footage. Authorities reportedly stated that nothing suspicious was found in the surveillance footage they reviewed, yet no substantial efforts were made to analyze additional available recordings.
OpenAI Responds
Following Suchir Balaji’s passing, OpenAI acknowledged his death in a statement, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of their former researcher. The company also assured that they were willing to provide any necessary assistance in the case.
Awaiting Further Developments
With new evidence emerging, the case remains under public and legal scrutiny. As Poornima Rao continues her fight for answers, the toxicology report and further investigation may shed light on the true nature of Suchir Balaji’s death.