Delhi HR Alleges AVP Hire Absconded with Rs 10 Lakh Bonus and Company Laptop

Employee Disappearance Highlights Gaps in Hiring Verification

A Delhi-based recruiter has shared a striking example of employee disappearance, where a senior engineering hire walked away with a salary of Rs 1.2 crore, a joining bonus of over Rs 10 lakh, and a company-issued laptop.

According to Akash Singh, a recruiter based in Delhi, the candidate was hired for an assistant vice president (AVP)–Engineering role at a previous company. The compensation package exceeded Rs 1.2 crore annually, including a joining bonus of more than Rs 10 lakh and a company laptop.

The candidate joined the company but spent most of their first month on leave due to health issues of their wife. They then disappeared, taking the first month's salary, joining bonus, and the company laptop with them.

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Singh stressed that such incidents are extremely rare, having only come across something like this once in nearly 10 years of recruiting. He added that companies often find it difficult to pursue such cases through legal channels, as it involves a hassle of reporting the matter to authorities and going through legal processes.

Singh also raised questions about the candidate's background, suggesting that the individual may not have been from a conventional software engineering role. "The immediate incentives might have looked more attractive than the opportunity itself," he said.

This incident comes amid growing online chatter around "candidate ghosting"—a phenomenon where job applicants or new hires abruptly cut off communication with employers. The issue gained traction after a separate post by Hyderabad-based recruiter for Uber, Raghu Tenneti, went viral for describing an extreme case involving an allegedly fake candidate identity.

Comparison of Incidents

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Recruiters say such incidents highlight gaps in hiring verification and onboarding safeguards. Legal recourse in such cases typically involves filing complaints, pursuing recovery of assets, and, in extreme cases, initiating fraud investigations. However, the cost and time involved often deter companies from aggressive action unless large financial losses are involved.

In this case, the company may be forced to bear the loss of Rs 1.2 crore, including the joining bonus and the value of the company laptop. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough background checks and verification processes in hiring.