Bengaluru-based startup Saarthi AI seems to be caught in an endless cycle of challenges. What started out as a bold move to turn profitable has now turned into a series of dramatic events, including mass layoffs and allegations of non-payment of salaries. And just when you thought the conspiracy couldn’t get any further, the CEO himself claimed that his passport was stolen by a former employee who was fired from the company.

A recent report by Entrackr has added another mystery to the startup’s story. Jha revealed that a senior employee allegedly stole his passport, which contained a much-awaited US visa. This unfortunate incident has left Jha unable to travel abroad to secure fresh funding for Saarthi AI. Although he has managed to obtain a new passport, the wait for a new US visa is proving to be too long for him.

Last year, Saarthi AI founder and CEO Vishwa Nath Jha made headlines when the company decided to lay off a large number of its employees. According to Jha, this tough decision was taken due to “pressure from investors” and the need to make the company financially viable. But the layoffs were just the beginning of Saarthi AI’s troubles.

But the drama doesn’t end here. Jha denies any wrongdoings and insists that all employees have been paid, while former and current employees tell a different story. They claim that over 50 employees have not received salaries for over a year. Some even say that there has been no response to their legal notices. An anonymous former employee shared his disappointment, saying, “The founder has not responded and has even said on several occasions that he doesn’t owe us any explanation.”

In the list of complaints, Jha also admitted that Saarthi AI has not deposited TDS on behalf of its employees for the last two financial years. Despite these admissions, he remains optimistic, saying that the company is striving to become cash flow positive by the second quarter of 2024. Jha also mentioned that the startup is actively seeking fresh capital to overcome its financial woes.

Right now, Saarthi AI is in a tough spot, with the founder unable to travel, employees in a precarious position and the company struggling to survive. Whether or not they can turn things around remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure – this is a tech story that is far from over.