Overview
- A 31-year-old M.Sc. physics student, Rishikesh Kumar, died after falling from the sixth floor of IIT Delhi's Lecture Hall Complex on Saturday, August 22.
- Delhi Police have registered an abetment-of-suicide case and are examining Kumar's mobile phone and counselling records to determine whether any third party bears responsibility.
- Hundreds of students staged multi-day protests demanding an independent inquiry, the resignation of student-welfare officials, ₹1 crore for the family, and guarantees against disciplinary action, and the student body has now paused street-level demonstrations pending the external panel's report.
- The institute reconstituted its external inquiry committee with retired Delhi High Court judge Mukta Gupta as chair, approved benevolent-fund support plus a voluntary donations fund for the family, and said it will appoint an external ombudsperson.
- Tensions remain after the director warned of disciplinary action for protesters who entered residential areas during a late-night march and students counter that their slogans sought faculty solidarity and that police surveillance on campus has been disproportionate, raising fears about academic and placement consequences.