Sahil Wakode, a 22‑year‑old second‑year BTech student in Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in Hostel 4 on Friday evening.
Family members say the young man endured harassment and caste‑based discrimination, prompting protests on campus where students alleged threats of suspension.
IIT officials allege that he used a mobile phone during a mid‑semester exam, uploading the question paper to ChatGPT, but have not initiated disciplinary action.
In response to mounting pressure, Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare removed Dean Suryanarayana Doolla from his post, stating that further action would await the investigation’s findings.
This incident marks the third suicide at IITs in seven months; since 2006, 171 students in Indian IITs have died by suicide.
Shyamlata Tayade, the student’s grandmother from Yavatmal village, insists that her family cannot grasp campus dynamics and seeks a transparent CBI probe.