Story perspectives

IIT Bombay Protests After Third Suicide in Seven Months

By Drooid · Sep 20, 2026, 2:07 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Students Protest Suicide

IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode committed suicide after being caught using a phone in an exam.
Police lodged an FIR for abetment of suicide and sent the case to the Crime Branch.
Wakode’s father claimed faculty member Suryanarayan Dulla used caste-based slurs and threatened false charges.
Over 400 students protested overnight, demanding a transparent inquiry after the institute’s third suicide in seven months.

Summary

Institute Postpones Exams

The institute postponed mid-semester examinations after a student’s death.
Police recorded the death as accidental and sent the body for post-mortem.
Authorities provided suicide-prevention helplines: Aasra (022-27546669), Sneha (044-24640050), and Vandrevala Foundation (9999666555).
DCP Dattatray Nalawade said the investigation is ongoing.
Students demanded stronger mental-health resources, saying current support does not address underlying stressors.

History

Historical Context

India’s National Mental Health Programme, begun in 1982 and expanded in the 1990s, received increased funding across India. A 2016 survey later found one in twenty Indians depressed, highlighting persistent gaps. The recent IIT Bombay student death revives calls, echoing earlier nationwide counseling pilots for students at IIT Delhi and Mumbai.

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Students Protest Suicide

IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode committed suicide after being caught using a phone in an exam.
Police lodged an FIR for abetment of suicide and sent the case to the Crime Branch.
Wakode’s father claimed faculty member Suryanarayan Dulla used caste-based slurs and threatened false charges.
Over 400 students protested overnight, demanding a transparent inquiry after the institute’s third suicide in seven months.

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