IIT Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a 20-year-old second-year BTech student, was found dead in his hostel room on Friday evening, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination.
According to IIT Bombay officials, Wakode had allegedly uploaded the exam question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers. The institute said he was counselled by the course instructor and Head of Department and was assured that the incident would not affect his academic career.
However, Wakode’s family has disputed the institute’s account. His father alleged that the student had faced severe mental harassment and casteist slurs over the previous three months, allegedly involving Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was invigilating the exam.
Following the family’s complaint, Powai police registered an FIR under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (abetment of suicide) along with provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
IIT Bombay has denied the discrimination allegations, saying students’ caste information is confidential and that its SC/ST Cell had not received any complaint from Wakode.
Amid student protests, Professor Doolla was removed from his position as Dean and sent on leave. IIT Bombay also apologised for an earlier statement, acknowledging that it was inappropriate to draw conclusions before the investigation was completed.
The case has now been handed over to the Mumbai Crime Branch. Investigators are examining Wakode’s phone and CCTV footage and are investigating the roles of everyone named in the FIR. No suicide note has reportedly been found in his hostel room so far.
The institute has also formed a 10-member panel to examine the circumstances surrounding the death and submit its report.
The allegations against Professor Doolla remain under investigation and have not been established in court.
Sources: PTI, ANI, Reuters, India TV
