Sahil Wakode, a second‑year student from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room after a midterm exam that had revealed a phone‑screen image of the question paper on ChatGPT. The institute said it had not taken any disciplinary action against him before the incident, and the instructor and department head had spoken with him earlier that day, assuring him that the case would not affect his academic standing.
The student's father filed a complaint with Mumbai Police, naming a list of individuals he claimed were involved in facilitating the cheating. Police registered an abetment‑of‑suicide case on the complaint and are investigating the named parties for alleged conspiracy to induce the student to take his life.
Wakode's mother later claimed that her son had been harassed and demanded justice, saying, "My son has been killed. He was subjected to severe harassment. I want justice." Protests erupted on the IIT Powai campus, with students accusing the administration of withholding full details and fearing the disciplinary consequences could have pushed the student toward suicide.
IIT Bombay released a statement expressing deep sadness and offering support to the student's friends, classmates, and faculty. The institute said the circumstances are being investigated by the appropriate authorities and that it remains committed to student welfare.
Police are expected to file charges against the accused conspirators once the investigation concludes, while the institute may revisit its disciplinary protocols to address student mental health concerns.