Mumbai: A second year student of IIT Bombay died by suicide on Friday, hours after he was caught using a mobile phone during an examination, according to reports. The incident has since triggered protests on the institute’s Powai campus, with students seeking greater transparency over what happened.
The student, identified as Sahil Ravindra Wakode, was pursuing a BTech in Energy Science and Engineering. IIT Bombay said he was found using a phone during an examination and had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to obtain answers.
According to the institute, no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against Wakode following the incident. The examination instructor and the Head of Department spoke to him and counselled him, while assuring him that the episode would not affect his academic career.
Wakode subsequently returned to his hostel room. He was later found dead, following which police began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. An accidental death report was registered and the body was sent for post mortem examination. Reports said no suicide note was recovered.
The incident led to a protest by students on campus. More than 400 students reportedly gathered, demanding answers from the administration and greater transparency in the handling of the examination incident.
Some protesting students alleged that Wakode had been threatened with a one year suspension and that disciplinary action could have delayed his graduation. The allegations have not been independently verified. They also differ from IIT Bombay’s account that no disciplinary action had been initiated against the student.
The institute’s administration has maintained that the student was counselled after the examination incident and that he was assured that his academic career would not be adversely affected.
The incident has also brought renewed attention to concerns surrounding academic pressure and student welfare at the premier institute. The ongoing mid semester examinations were reportedly postponed following the student’s death.
IIT Bombay has expressed grief over the death and said support was being provided to students, friends and faculty members affected by the incident.
Wakode’s death is the third reported student suicide at IIT Bombay in seven months, according to reports.
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. At present, there is no official finding establishing that the examination incident, use of ChatGPT or alleged disciplinary pressure caused the student’s death.
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