Balaji’s parents have questioned the circumstances of their son’s death and refuse to believe that he died by suicide, as ruled by the office of the chief medical examiner.

They have demanded an FBI investigation into his death. The demand, Ramarao said, stems from their belief that the San Francisco police department lacks the ability to conduct a thorough investigation into a case that includes issues such as cybersecurity and whistleblower protection.

Police found Balaji dead in his apartment on 26 November after Ramarao had failed to get in touch with her son for three days. She filed a missing person complaint where she lives in Union City, about 40 miles from San Francisco. Police there contacted San Francisco authorities.

Ramarao said it took the medical examiner 40 seconds from the time they arrived at the scene to declare it a suicide.