IIT Bombay Student Dies by Suicide After ChatGPT Exam Incident; FIR Over Alleged Harassment

A second-year student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Sahil Ravindra Wakode, died by suicide on September 18, hours after he was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination to upload the question paper to ChatGPT.

What initially emerged as an examination-related incident has since developed into a wider dispute over the circumstances surrounding Wakode's death. His family has alleged that he was subjected to prolonged harassment and caste-based discrimination on campus. Mumbai Police have registered a case of alleged abetment to suicide and invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The investigation has now been taken over by the Mumbai Crime Branch, according to reports.

At the same time, IIT Bombay has disputed key allegations made by students and the family. The institute has said that no disciplinary action was initiated against Wakode after he was found using his phone and that he was counselled by the examination instructor and Head of Department, who assured him that the incident would not affect his academic career.

What happened during the examination

Wakode was a second-year student in IIT Bombay's Department of Energy Science and Engineering. Reports identify him as a BTech student from Yavatmal, Maharashtra.

According to IIT Bombay's statement, Wakode was found using a mobile phone inside the examination hall on Friday. The institute said he had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers during the examination.

The institute said the matter was subsequently discussed with Wakode by the instructor and the Head of Department. According to its account, he was counselled and assured that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career. IIT Bombay has specifically stated that “no disciplinary action had been initiated against him at that stage.”

Reports citing students, however, have presented a different account of what happened after Wakode was caught with the phone. Students protesting on campus alleged that he had been threatened with a possible one-year suspension. They said such a suspension could have required him to leave the hostel and potentially delayed completion of his engineering degree.

That allegation has not been independently established and conflicts with IIT Bombay's statement that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him.

Death later that evening

After the examination-related interaction, Wakode returned to his hostel room. Later that evening, he was found dead after his hostel mates became concerned when he did not respond to calls or attempts to contact him.

Police initially registered an Accidental Death Report and sent the body for post-mortem examination. Reports also state that no suicide note was recovered.

The sequence of events — the examination incident, the subsequent interaction with faculty, Wakode's return to the hostel and his death later that evening — has become a central part of the investigation. However, the available evidence does not establish that the examination incident alone caused his death.

Family alleges prolonged caste-based harassment

The case took another turn after Wakode's parents approached the police with allegations of prolonged harassment and caste discrimination.

His father, Ravindra Chakradhar Wankhade, alleged in his complaint that his son had spoken to him about caste-related harassment over a period of around three months. The complaint names IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayan Doolla and alleges that caste-based remarks and pressure were directed at Wakode.

According to reports, Doolla was the invigilator during the examination in which Wakode was allegedly found using the mobile phone.

Based on the family's complaint, Powai Police registered a case under “Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita”, relating to abetment of suicide, along with provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Professor Doolla has been named in the FIR, while other accused persons were initially unidentified in the complaint/FIR, according to reports.

The registration of an FIR means the allegations are being investigated; it does not establish the allegations as proven.

Wakode's mother, Sonali, has publicly alleged that her son was severely harassed. Speaking to reporters, she demanded justice and said she believed the treatment he received had led to his death.

IIT Bombay denies caste-discrimination allegations

IIT Bombay has denied the family's allegations of caste-based discrimination.

In a statement reported by The Indian Express, the institute said no complaint relating to caste discrimination had been submitted by Wakode either to the institute's SC-ST cell or to the administration.

IIT Bombay Director Shireesh B. Kedare also denied allegations of caste discrimination on campus and said such information about students was not generally available to faculty members in their day-to-day functioning.

After the FIR was registered, the institute said the police case was under investigation and that IIT Bombay would cooperate fully with the authorities. It also appealed for privacy for the family and urged people to avoid speculation while the investigation continues.

Students protest, question institute's account

Wakode's death triggered a major protest at the IIT Bombay campus.

More than 400 students reportedly gathered to demand accountability and transparency from the administration. Student groups questioned the sequence of events between Wakode being found with the phone and his death later that evening.

Students also disputed the institute's account that no disciplinary action had been initiated. They alleged that Wakode had been threatened with suspension and argued that the possibility of losing hostel accommodation and extending his degree could have placed him under severe pressure.

These claims remain allegations and have not been independently established. IIT Bombay has maintained that no disciplinary proceeding had been initiated and that Wakode was assured that the incident would not damage his academic career.

The Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC), a student organisation at IIT Bombay, called for an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wakode's death. The group has also raised questions about the institute's disciplinary mechanisms and demanded accountability from senior officials.

The protests also affected the ongoing mid-semester examinations, with reports stating that examinations were postponed following the unrest on campus.

Police investigation expands

The police investigation has since moved beyond the initial accidental-death report.

After Wakode's parents filed their complaint, an FIR was registered naming Professor Suryanarayan Doolla and others. The case includes allegations of abetment to suicide and provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The investigation was subsequently handed over to the Mumbai Crime Branch following discussions between police officials and Wakode's parents at Rajawadi Hospital. The family had reportedly refused to take custody of the body while demanding action against those they held responsible. Police later assured them that the Crime Branch would investigate the case.

DCP Dattatray Nalawade has said the allegations in the complaint would be investigated and that the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined.

Family says there were no obvious warning signs

In separate conversations with the family, The Indian Express reported that Wakode's parents did not observe signs suggesting that he was facing an immediate crisis before his death.

His mother said she had spoken with him on Thursday, a day before his death, during their regular conversation and did not notice anything unusual. His parents had also visited him on campus earlier in the week.

The family said Wakode had performed well academically, had no first-year backlogs and was active in sports, including badminton and skating. His mother said he had planned to prepare for the Civil Services after completing his engineering degree.

His father also questioned the allegation that his son had attempted to cheat, saying it was difficult for the family to reconcile the allegation with their understanding of his academic record. That is the family's account and has not been independently established.

Third reported suicide at IIT Bombay campus this year

The incident has also renewed scrutiny of student deaths at IIT Bombay. Multiple reports describe Wakode's death as the third reported suicide at the Powai campus in seven months. Earlier deaths were reported in February and July 2026.

The latest case, however, differs from those earlier incidents because it has quickly developed into a dispute involving an examination incident, allegations of caste-based harassment, questions about institutional disciplinary procedures and a police FIR against a faculty member.

The investigation will have to establish what happened inside the examination hall, what was communicated to Wakode afterwards, whether any disciplinary action or threat of disciplinary action was made, whether the allegations of caste-based harassment are substantiated, and whether any of these factors had a role in his death.

For now, the two principal accounts remain sharply different: IIT Bombay says no disciplinary action was initiated and that Wakode was counselled and reassured, while his family and protesting students have alleged pressure, harassment and a threat of suspension. The police investigation and the Crime Branch probe are expected to examine those competing claims.

Reporting note: The death occurred on September 18, 2026. This report separates established developments — including the examination incident, IIT Bombay's statement, the police FIR and the protests — from allegations made by the family and student groups. The allegations against individuals and the alleged link between the examination incident and Wakode's death remain subject to investigation.

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