Overview
- A second-year BTech student, Sahil Wakode, was found dead in his hostel room on September 18, triggering large student protests and the postponement of mid‑semester exams.
- IIT Bombay director Shireesh Kedare held a late‑night three‑hour meeting with protesters and the administration signed a list of 18 demands that it has agreed to follow up on.
- Workers have begun replacing ceiling fans with wall‑mounted units after the first batch arrived on campus, and the institute says the change is part of planned hostel renovations rather than an explicit response to the death.
- Mumbai Police are investigating the circumstances of Wakode’s death, and the institute has said no disciplinary action had been taken against him while denying allegations of caste‑based discrimination.
- Mental‑health experts and students warn that fan replacement alone does not prevent suicide and call for accessible counselling, confidential grievance redressal, academic support, and systemic reform; the Board review is expected to address those broader gaps.