IIT Bombay Student Dies by Suicide After Exam Incident
Student death triggers protest on campus; institute says no disciplinary action had been initiated
- The student was identified as Sahil Wakode of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering.
- IIT Bombay said no disciplinary action had been initiated against him.
- Students protested on campus, seeking transparency and accountability from the administration.
- Police said an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death is underway.
GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 19th Sept: A second-year student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay died by suicide on Friday evening, hours after being questioned over the use of a mobile phone during an examination, according to the institute and police.
According to IIT Bombay, the student had used his mobile phone during the examination and uploaded the question paper on ChatGPT to seek answers. The institute said the matter was discussed with him by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.
The student subsequently returned to his hostel room and was later found dead, the institute said.
IIT Bombay expressed deep sorrow over the student’s death and said it was extending support to his friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the incident. The institute added that the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined by the appropriate authorities.
The incident led to protests by students at the Powai campus. Some students alleged that the administration had not disclosed the complete circumstances surrounding the death and demanded greater transparency and accountability.
Students also claimed that the student could have faced severe disciplinary consequences over the examination incident. These claims have not been independently verified, while the institute has stated that no disciplinary action had been initiated.
The protest comes amid reports of two other student deaths by suicide at IIT Bombay in the past several months. A second-year student died by suicide in February, while another second-year BTech student died by suicide in July 2026.
Police were deployed on the campus following the protests. DCP Dattatray Nalawade said an investigation was underway and that the institute administration was holding discussions with the protesting students.
The incident has renewed concerns among students over academic pressure, disciplinary processes and mental health support on campus, although the circumstances and factors surrounding the student’s death remain under investigation.
