IIT Bombay student death: Police register FIR as campus protests continue

Mumbai Police have registered an FIR in connection with the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who was found dead on the institute's Powai campus hours after he was caught using a mobile phone during an examination, officials said on Sep 19.

Wakode, a second-year student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room on Sep 18 evening.

His death prompted a protest involving hundreds of students, who questioned the institute's handling of the events preceding his death and sought greater transparency in the investigation. The ongoing mid-semester examinations were also postponed following the incident.

What happened during the examination?

According to IIT Bombay, Wakode was found using a mobile phone during an examination. The institute said he had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT while the test was underway in an attempt to obtain answers.

The incident was subsequently discussed with him by the examination instructor and the Head of the Department. IIT Bombay said the two counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

The institute has maintained that no disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Wakode following the examination incident. He returned to his hostel after the discussion and was later found dead in his room.

Students allege suspension threat

Students protesting on campus have given a different account of what followed the examination incident.

Some protesters alleged that Wakode had been warned that he could face a one-year suspension. They said such action could have required him to leave the hostel and potentially delayed completion of his engineering course.

These claims have not been independently established. IIT Bombay has specifically said that no disciplinary action had been initiated against Wakode and that he had been assured the examination incident would not affect his academic career.

Students have also demanded greater transparency from the administration and questioned how examination-related disciplinary matters are handled on campus. More than 400 students gathered during the protests.

Police begin investigation

Police initially registered an Accidental Death Report in connection with Wakode's death. The body was sent for post-mortem examination, while statements of family members and students were being recorded.

The FIR registered on Sep 19 names people linked to the circumstances surrounding the examination incident, according to police sources cited in reports. The investigation is continuing, and the authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding Wakode's death.

Wakode was from Maharashtra's Yavatmal district. His family reached Mumbai after being informed of his death, while police continued to record statements from people on campus.

IIT Bombay postpones mid-semester exams

The death led to an overnight protest on the Powai campus, with students demanding answers from the administration. The protests continued into Sep 19, with students seeking an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death and raising concerns about student welfare and institutional accountability.

The institute postponed the ongoing mid-semester examinations following the incident. The director also met protesting students as the administration faced demands for greater transparency.

IIT Bombay expressed grief over Wakode's death and said it was extending support to his friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the incident. The institute said the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined by the appropriate authorities.

The police investigation is underway, and the conflicting accounts about what followed the examination incident remain part of the inquiry.