The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has stated that no disciplinary action was initiated against second-year student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide after being found using a mobile phone during an examination. The institute said the student was counselled by the examination instructor and the Head of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering before returning to his hostel room. He was later found dead on Friday evening.
The incident has triggered protests on the IIT Bombay campus, with students demanding accountability and transparency from the administration. Students have alleged that Wakode faced the possibility of a one-year suspension, although the claim has not been independently verified.
IIT Bombay Explains Examination Incident
According to the institute’s official statement, Wakode was found using a mobile phone inside the examination hall. IIT Bombay said that he had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers during the examination.
The institute stated that the matter was subsequently discussed with him by the examination instructor and the department head. Both officials counselled the student and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career. IIT Bombay maintained that no formal disciplinary action had been initiated against him.
The institute said Wakode returned to his hostel room after the discussion and was later found dead. IIT Bombay expressed condolences and said that the circumstances surrounding his death were being examined by the appropriate authorities.
Students Protest on IIT Bombay Campus
Following the student’s death, a large group of students gathered on the Powai campus to protest and seek answers from the administration. Reports stated that more than 400 students participated in the demonstrations.
The protesting students questioned the institute’s account of the incident and alleged that Wakode had been threatened with a one-year suspension. They said such a penalty could have required him to leave the hostel and potentially extended the duration of his academic programme. These allegations have not been independently established.
The students demanded accountability, transparency and a clear explanation of the events preceding Wakode’s death. The protests also raised broader concerns about how academic misconduct cases and student distress are handled within higher education institutions.
Police Register Case Following Complaint
A case has been registered based on a complaint filed by Wakode’s father. His mother has also alleged that her son faced harassment and demanded justice.
The allegations are part of an ongoing investigation, and the circumstances surrounding the student’s death have not yet been conclusively established. The institute has said that it is extending support to the student’s family, friends, classmates and faculty members affected by the incident.
IIT Bombay Faces Questions Over Student Safety
The incident has renewed discussion about student mental health, institutional accountability and the need for sensitive responses to academic pressure. Students at the campus have called for greater transparency in the administration’s handling of the case and stronger support mechanisms for students facing distress.
IIT Bombay’s statement focuses on its claim that the student was counselled and was not subjected to formal disciplinary action. Meanwhile, student allegations and the police investigation continue to raise questions about the events that preceded his death. The competing accounts will need to be examined through the ongoing inquiry.