A day that began with a routine examination at IIT Bombay ended in tragedy on Friday evening after a second-year student, who had been caught using a mobile phone to upload the exam question paper on ChatGPT, was found dead in his hostel room. His death triggered a protest by more than 400 students on the Powai campus, with students seeking answers from the institute over the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The student was identified as 19-year-old Sahil Wakode, a second-year student from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. According to IIT Bombay, he had used the phone during the examination to upload the question paper on ChatGPT and seek answers.
The institute said no disciplinary action had been initiated against Wakode. 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 affect his academic career. Wakode later returned to his hostel room and was found dead there in the evening.
Police begin investigation
Wakode was a resident of Hostel 4. Police reached the room and began the formal investigation, including preparing a panchnama. His body was sent to Rajawadi Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
More than 400 students gather on campus
News of the death quickly spread across the IIT Bombay campus, following which more than 400 students gathered near the institute’s main building. The students raised concerns about the administration’s handling of the incident and sought greater transparency about what had happened before Wakode’s death.
The protest continued late into the night. Around 10:30 pm, IIT Bombay Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare met the protesting students. After the meeting, the gathering was moved to the convocation hall located opposite the main building.
Mid-semester exams postponed
The incident also affected the ongoing mid-semester examinations at the institute. According to students participating in the protest, the remaining examinations were postponed following discussions with the administration.
Students had raised concerns over the continuation of academic activities despite the death on campus, and the postponement followed these discussions.
Students raise concerns over possible suspension
Some students also alleged that Wakode had been threatened with a one-year suspension over the examination incident. They claimed that such an action could have required him to leave the hostel and stay outside the campus.
Students further alleged that a suspension could have delayed completion of his engineering degree, potentially extending a four-year course to five years or more. However, these claims regarding the proposed suspension and its possible consequences have not been independently verified.
Third suicide at IIT Powai in six months
Wakode’s death is the third suicide reported at the IIT Powai campus in six months, adding to concerns among students about recent incidents on campus. Students also questioned why such deaths were taking place and sought greater clarity from the institute about the circumstances surrounding them.
The institute said the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined by the appropriate authorities.
Police investigation underway
Police were deployed on the campus as the protest continued and discussions took place between students and the administration.
The circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death remain under investigation. While IIT Bombay has stated that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him, students have made separate claims regarding a possible suspension. Those claims have not yet been independently established.
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