Akums Finance President Resigns Citing Severe Delhi Air Pollution

By siliconindia  |  Monday, 29 December 2025, 02:56:09 PM IST

Akums Finance President Resigns Citing Severe Delhi Air Pollution
  • Akums Finance President Rajkumar Bafna resigned, citing Delhi’s severe air pollution and related health issues.
  • Delhi’s air quality touched the ‘severe’ category, with AQI crossing 400 at several locations.
  • The resignation highlights growing environmental and health concerns impacting professional decisions.
In a rare development in Indian corporate history, Rajkumar Bafna, President-Finance at Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, has resigned from his position, citing severe air pollution in Delhi as the reason. The resignation highlights the growing health concerns linked to the city’s worsening air quality.
According to reports, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has been hovering around 460 in recent days, placing it firmly in the 'hazardous' category. In an email dated December 3, Bafna clearly stated that the high pollution levels in the national capital forced him to step down from his role. The company accepted his resignation on December 12, and his last working day has been set as December 31, 2025, as confirmed in a regulatory filing. The development was first reported by NDTV Profit.
In his resignation letter addressed to Chief Financial Officer Sumeet Sood, Bafna wrote that he was resigning due to Delhi’s pollution levels and requested to be relieved at the earliest. He also expressed willingness to support the company during the transition period.
Responding to the resignation, Sood acknowledged the decision, stating that while the company regretted losing him, it respected his choice given the health concerns involved.
A company official revealed that Bafna had recently moved to Delhi from Mumbai and soon began experiencing persistent coughing and respiratory discomfort. These health issues were reportedly made worse by the poor air quality in the city.
The incident has drawn attention as one of the few cases where a senior corporate executive has openly cited environmental conditions as the reason for quitting a top role. It also underlines the serious impact of air pollution on daily life and professional decisions.
On Monday, Delhi woke up under a thick layer of smog, with the AQI recorded at 402 at 7 am, falling in the 'severe' category. More than half of the city’s monitoring stations reported severe air quality levels. As per Central Pollution Control Board standards, any AQI above 401 is considered severe and poses serious health risks.
Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to such pollution can lead to respiratory and heart problems, along with mental stress. They advise residents to limit outdoor activities, use air purifiers indoors, and wear protective masks when stepping outside.
 

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