‘Suchir Balaji was about to expose OpenAI’: Whistleblower’s parents claim he was planning legal action before death

Suchir Balaji’s parents Balagi Ramamurthy and Poornima Rao

The family of Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old whistleblower who accused OpenAI of copyright infringements, has disclosed that he was preparing to take legal action against the company before his untimely death. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 27, with the city’s Chief Medical Examiner ruling it a suicide. However, his parents, speaking with Republic World, have raised suspicions of foul play, insisting their son was “courageous” and unlikely to end his own life.
Plans to expose OpenAI
According to his mother, Poornima Ramarao, Suchir had compiled evidence to support his claims and had arranged interviews with major media outlets, including the Associated Press, to shed light on OpenAI’s alleged copyright violations. “He told me he was working on personal research,” Poornima said, adding that he brushed off her concerns, assuring her that he had done nothing wrong.
The family revealed that Suchir had a document outlining his accusations and legal strategy. “He was ready to go public in a big way,” his mother said.
Questions surrounding his death
Suchir’s parents became alarmed after not hearing from him for several days and contacted police, who discovered his body in his apartment. Poornima expressed doubts about the circumstances of his death, claiming that key details “don’t add up.”
The family noted unusual activity on his devices after his death, including temporary files from Google Chrome and Google Drive appearing on November 29—two days after his body was found. “We are investigating who accessed his desktop,” Poornima said, emphasizing their commitment to conducting a thorough forensic analysis of his laptop and other devices.
‘He wouldn’t take his own life’
Poornima described her son as upbeat and happy in the days leading up to his death. He had celebrated his birthday with friends and enjoyed a vacation in Los Angeles and Catalina Island just a week prior. “He was full of life,” she said. “Someone so bold and self-assured wouldn’t take such a step.”
Appeal for justice
The family has vowed to uncover the truth behind Suchir’s death, suspecting that his whistleblowing may have led to threats or intimidation. They have called for an independent investigation and have sought support from influential figures like Elon Musk.
“This involves hundreds of billions of dollars,” Poornima said. “We need someone powerful to help us get to the bottom of this.”