IIT Bombay Student Dies by Suicide After Alleged ChatGPT Use in Exam; Campus Protests Follow

A second-year student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay died by suicide on Friday evening after being found using a mobile phone during an examination, according to the institute.

The incident was followed by protests on the Powai campus, with students demanding transparency and accountability from the administration. The student, identified as Sahil Wakode from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, had allegedly uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers, IIT Bombay said.

IIT Bombay Says No Disciplinary Action Was Taken

The institute said no formal disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against Wakode following the examination incident.

According to IIT Bombay, the matter was discussed with him by the instructor and the Head of the Department. He was counselled and assured that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

Wakode subsequently returned to his hostel room. He was later found dead there.

IIT Bombay expressed grief over the death and said it was providing support to the student’s friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the incident. The institute also said that the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined by the appropriate authorities.

Students Protest on Campus

The student’s death triggered a protest involving hundreds of students at IIT Bombay. Reports said more than 400 students gathered on campus, seeking answers from the administration and raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding the incident. The ongoing mid-semester examinations were also postponed, according to reports.

Some protesting students alleged that Wakode had been threatened with disciplinary action, including a possible one-year suspension. They claimed such a punishment could have required him to leave the hostel and potentially affected the duration of his academic programme.

However, these allegations have not been independently established. IIT Bombay has maintained that no disciplinary action had been initiated and that the student had instead been counselled and assured that the examination incident would not affect his academic career.

The conflicting accounts have become a central issue in the students’ demands for greater transparency. Students said they wanted the administration to provide clarity about what happened between the examination and the student’s death.

Third Reported Suicide at IIT Bombay in Seven Months

The incident is the third reported student suicide at the IIT Bombay Powai campus in seven months, according to multiple reports.

The latest case has renewed concerns among students about academic pressure and the need for stronger institutional support. However, the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death remain under investigation, and no conclusion has been established about what factors may have contributed to it.

Police have also begun examining the circumstances of the death. A police official said discussions were taking place between the institute administration and protesting students to address their concerns.

Investigation Underway

IIT Bombay has said that the appropriate authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the student’s death. The institute has also said it is extending support to members of the campus community affected by the tragedy.

Meanwhile, students have continued to demand accountability and clarity from the administration. The dispute over what happened after the examination remains unresolved, with the institute’s account that no disciplinary action was taken differing from allegations made by some protesters.

The investigation is expected to establish the sequence of events and clarify the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

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