Full Breakdown
IIT Bombay Student Suicide After Cheating Allegation Sparks Investigation and Caste-Discrimination Claims
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Death Following an Exam-Malpractice Incident
On September 18, 22-year-old Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay, was found hanging in his hostel room in Powai. Police say the death occurred hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester thermodynamics exam. Wakode had submitted a written apology, acknowledging the mistake and requesting “one more chance.”
Background & Context
IIT Bombay’s disciplinary procedure allows accused students to receive the investigation report, submit a written response, and be heard before any sanction. An official noted that a rule mandating a fail grade and a one-semester suspension for electronic-gadget copying was withdrawn in August, altering potential penalties. The institute initially reported that no disciplinary action had been taken against Wakode and that he had received counselling.
Timeline
- September 18 – Wakode’s death, hours after the alleged cheating incident.
- September 24 – Parents Ravindra and Sonali Wakode began an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan, demanding justice and alleging caste-based discrimination.
- September 30 – Mumbai Crime Branch recorded statements from 40 individuals and sent Wakode’s devices for forensic analysis.
Data & Statistics
- 40 statements recorded by the Crime Branch.
- 1 professor (Suryanarayana Doolla) named in an abetment-to-suicide FIR.
- 1 institute director (Shireesh Kedare) interviewed.
Official Statements & Responses
- IIT Bombay officials said Wakode expressed regret and asked for a second chance; the institute clarified that no disciplinary action had been initiated before his death.
- Director Shireesh Kedare’s statement was recorded by the Crime Branch, though not released publicly.
- Professor Doolla, then Dean of Administrative Affairs, denied caste-harassment allegations, was removed from his administrative role and placed on leave.
- Police confirmed Wakode’s written apology was part of the evidence.
Criticism & Opposition
- Parents allege their son faced caste-based harassment and that the institute’s response contributed to his distress; they seek action against Doolla and Kedare.
- Prof. Rajkumar Pant, chief of the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum, defended the professor, stating the student “indulged in malpractice” and warning that vilifying a professor would harm the teaching community.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The claim about the withdrawn punitive rule is reported by an official but not corroborated elsewhere, leaving the exact disciplinary framework unclear.
- The investigation remains ongoing; no final conclusions have been released regarding alleged caste discrimination, counselling adequacy, or the precise sequence of events.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When he was caught, Sahil expressed regret and requested that he be given one more chance,” — an official
- “The student indulged in malpractice during the exam. Prof Doolla reported the matter to the head of the department. If a professor is being vilified just for discharging his duties, then it is a problem for the entire teaching community in the country,” — Prof Rajkumar Pant
What’s Next
The Mumbai Crime Branch continues its forensic examination of Wakode’s devices and is expected to file a final report. The parents’ hunger strike persists, and they have called for an independent inquiry into IIT Bombay’s handling of the case and alleged caste-based bias.