Full Breakdown
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay Student Death Triggers Probe, Protests and Calls for Reform
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
- On September 18, 2026, Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student in Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room after an examination incident involving a mobile phone.
Background & Context
- IIT Bombay had recently revised its academic-misconduct rules, allowing immediate suspension for possession of unauthorised devices.
- A 2022 survey by the institute’s SC/ST Students’ Cell reported that about a quarter of respondents were asked their surname to ascertain caste, and more than a third faced caste-related questioning after entrance-exam scores were known.
- The institute initially said Wakode had been caught uploading the question paper to ChatGPT and was assured his academic record would not be affected. It retracted that claim on September 21, 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
- IIT Bombay apologized twice and said the circumstances remain under investigation, affirming no disciplinary action had been taken against Wakode.
- The Mumbai Police Crime Branch, led by an ACP and supervised by a DCP, said the probe is being conducted “diligently and impartially” and urged the public to refrain from speculation.
- Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale visited the campus and called for a thorough investigation, noting the death suggested a “major reason” behind it.
- Advocate Nikhil Kamble, representing the parents, said the family was denied legal protection when police attempted to move them away from the campus.
- IIT Bombay director Shireesh Kedare pledged legal support for Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who has been placed on leave pending the inquiry.
Criticism & Opposition
- Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib demanded the immediate arrest of Director Kedare and Professor Doolla, insisting on an independent probe.
- Parents allege caste-based harassment and have invoked the SC/ST Act; the FIR reflects these allegations.
- “He is at least innocent till proven guilty, as per our Constitution,” — Deepak Birewar
On-the-Ground Reports
- The Wakode family staged a hunger strike at Azad Maidan on September 24, 2026, demanding arrests and a fast-track investigation.
- Police detained Youth Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad and several party workers outside the campus; Gaikwad described the incident as “institutional murder.”
- Students submitted an 18-point charter calling for a student-friendly SOP for invigilators, stronger mental-health support and greater grievance-redressal transparency.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Maharashtra Home Minister Yogesh Kadam said preliminary findings did not indicate caste discrimination, while the parents’ FIR explicitly alleges it.
- IIT Bombay’s claim that Wakode was assured his academic career would not be affected contrasts with the family’s assertion that he faced an “immediate suspension” threat.
- CCTV confirms the hand-over of a phone but has not been released publicly, leaving the exact sequence after the exam hall unclear.
What’s Next
- The 10-member committee is expected to submit its report within ten days; the institute plans to present revised examination-misconduct SOPs to the Senate.
- Crime Branch continues to analyse CCTV and electronic evidence; access to Wakode’s locked phone remains pending.
- Rescheduled mid-semester examinations will be held on October 10–11, 2026, allowing the committee time to finalise recommendations.