IIT Bombay student death sparks protests as family alleges torture

Mumbai Police have registered a case of alleged abetment of suicide and other offences following the death of 22-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode, after his father named several people in a complaint.

Sahil’s mother has alleged that her son was “killed” and “tortured”, demanding justice for his death on the institute’s Powai campus.

“My son was killed and tortured. Now we want justice,” she told reporters on Saturday.

Mumbai Police DCP Dutt Nalavade said the case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Sahil’s father. He said the complaint named several people and a case had been registered against all those named.

“Yesterday, a second-year BTech student committed suicide at IIT Powai. Following the incident, a case has been registered on the complaint of the deceased student's father and further investigation is being conducted,” Nalavade said.

He added that investigators would examine the incident from all angles.

Exam incident preceded student's death

Sahil, a second-year BTech student in IIT Bombay’s Energy Science and Engineering department, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room on Friday evening. He was a native of Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district.

His death came hours after he was caught using a mobile phone during an examination. IIT Bombay said Sahil had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.

The institute has maintained that no disciplinary action was initiated against him. According to IIT Bombay, the instructor and the Head of the Department discussed the matter with Sahil, counselled him and assured him that the incident would not affect his academic career.

Sahil subsequently returned to his hostel room. Later that evening, his hostel mates found that he was not responding and alerted the authorities, following which police were informed.

Police said no suicide note was recovered from the room. His body was sent for a post-mortem examination.

Students question institute's handling

Sahil’s death triggered protests at the IIT Bombay campus, with students demanding a transparent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Protesting students alleged that Sahil had been threatened with suspension after being caught using his phone during the examination. They demanded accountability from the administration and called for the resignation of IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare.

Students also raised broader concerns about academic pressure, student welfare and the manner in which disciplinary matters are handled at the institute.

The allegations about suspension have not been independently established and contradict IIT Bombay’s account that no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against Sahil.

More than 400 students reportedly gathered on campus following his death. The protests also led to the postponement of ongoing mid-semester examinations, according to reports.

The institute has said it was “deeply saddened” by Sahil’s death and was extending support to his friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the tragedy.

“The circumstances surrounding the death are being looked into by the appropriate authorities,” IIT Bombay said.

Family raises further allegations as probe continues

The latest police action follows the allegations made by Sahil’s family and comes as investigators examine the events leading up to his death.

Other reports have also carried allegations from Sahil’s parents of harassment and caste-based discrimination. These claims are part of the broader allegations being raised by the family and have not been independently established.

The police investigation is expected to examine the examination incident, the interactions between Sahil and institute officials afterwards, and the allegations contained in his father’s complaint.

Sahil’s death is the third reported student suicide at IIT Bombay’s Powai campus in seven months. A second-year student died by suicide in February, while a 20-year-old second-year BTech student died by suicide in July, at the beginning of the new semester.

The circumstances surrounding all aspects of Sahil’s death remain under investigation.