IIT Bombay Student Dies by Suicide After Being Caught Using ChatGPT in Exam; Protests Erupt

Mumbai: An IIT Bombay student died by suicide on Friday evening after officials caught him using a mobile phone during an examination.

Sahil Wakode, a second-year student from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, reportedly uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers. According to the institute, officials did not initiate disciplinary action against him. The instructor and Head of the Department discussed the incident with Wakode, provided counselling, and assured him that the matter would not adversely affect his academic career. After the discussion, Wakode returned to his hostel room, where authorities later found him dead.

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Students Protest at IIT Bombay, Demand Accountability

IIT Bombay expressed deep sadness over the loss and said it would support the student’s friends, classmates, faculty members, and others affected by the incident. The institute added that appropriate authorities were investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. The incident reportedly marks the third student suicide at IIT Bombay’s Powai campus within approximately seven months. Earlier cases reportedly occurred in February and July 2026. Following news of Wakode’s death, students organised protests on campus, demanding transparency and accountability from the institute’s administration. Protesters alleged that officials had not disclosed the complete circumstances surrounding the incident.

Some students claimed that Wakode faced the threat of a one-year suspension, which could have forced him to leave the hostel and live outside campus. They also alleged that disciplinary action might have extended his engineering course beyond four years. However, authorities have not independently verified these claims or established whether disciplinary concerns contributed to his death. Students called for answers regarding repeated suicides on campus and urged the administration to address their concerns. Police deployed security personnel as students and administrators held discussions. Senior police officer Dattatray Nalawade confirmed that an investigation was underway and said the administration was engaging with students to address their demands. Mental health support remains available through the Vandrevala Foundation at 9999666555 and TISS iCall at 022-25521111, operating Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.

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