‘It doesn’t look like suicide’: Elon Musk enters controversy over Suchir Balaji’s death; “support us,” techie’s mother appeals

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has supported Poornima Ramarao’s claims of crime in connection with the mysterious death of her son, Suchir Balaji.
Ramarao, the mother of a 26-year-old Indian-origin technology researcher and former OpenAI employee, called for an FBI investigation, arguing that evidence revealed during a private autopsy and investigation cast doubt on police’s decision to commit suicide.
Ramarao shared her concerns, writing: “Suchir’s apartment was ransacked, which is a sign of a fight in the bathroom and it looks like someone hit him in the bathroom because of the blood stains. This is a cold-blooded mu*d*r declared by the authorities to be suicide. Lobbying in SF City doesn’t stop us from getting justice. We demand an FBI investigation.”

In response, Musk expressed his support, tweeting: “This doesn’t look like suicide.”

Following Musk’s comments, Ramarao contacted him seeking further assistance in the matter.

Earlier, the entrepreneur, who co-founded OpenAI and later parted ways with the company, also wrote about the incident, fueling further speculations about Balaji’s sudden death.

The tragedy has prompted prominent AI ethics advocates and developers to demand a full and transparent investigation, along with stronger protections for those who raise ethical concerns in the tech industry.
Balaji, a respected figure in the technology world, was known for his critical stance towards AI practices. In October, he made headlines in an interview with The New York Times in which he raised concerns about copyright infringement by leading artificial intelligence companies. After resigning from OpenAI in August over ethical disagreements, Balaji became a key figure in the newspaper’s copyright lawsuit against the company.
A few days after his 26th birthday, Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26. San Francisco police ruled his death a suicide, citing CCTV footage that showed he was alone at the time.
However, his supporters have raised serious questions about the circumstances of his death. Despite the San Francisco Police Department’s stance that there is no evidence of foul play, Ramarao’s call for an FBI investigation is gaining tremendous momentum and public support.