Overview
- The second-year Energy Science and Engineering student, Sahil Wakode, was found dead in his H-4 hostel room on Friday evening after faculty said they had counselled him for using a mobile phone to upload exam questions to ChatGPT and that no disciplinary action had been initiated.
- More than 400 students staged protests on campus demanding a transparent investigation and the resignation of Director Shirish B. Kedare, who has said he accepts moral responsibility but has not stepped down.
- Mumbai Police have opened an investigation into the circumstances of Wakode’s death and the DCP reported that talks between the institute administration and student representatives are under way.
- This is reported as the third student death at IIT Bombay in seven months, following the February death of Naman Agarwal and the July death of Sohil Rajkumar Sangwan, which has intensified scrutiny of campus procedures.
- Students and reporters say the case raises urgent questions about mental-health support, how allegations of cheating involving AI are handled, and whether institutional transparency or disciplinary rules will change after the inquiry.