IIT Bombay Student's Suicide Sparks Protest, Abetment Case Over AI Exam Incident
Mumbai Police have filed an abetment-of-suicide case after IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode died by suicide, prompting protests by over 400 students.
The death of an IIT Bombay student, hours after he was caught using artificial intelligence during an examination, has triggered a police investigation and a large student protest on the Powai campus.
Sahil Wakode, a second-year MSc student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room on Friday evening. Earlier that day, according to the institute, he had been found using a mobile phone in the examination hall and had uploaded the question paper on ChatGPT to look for answers.
Mumbai Police have registered a case of abetment of suicide on a complaint filed by Wakode's father. The father named several individuals in his statement, and investigators are examining the alleged role of each of them.
Wakode's mother has alleged that her son was harassed and demanded justice. "My son has been killed. He was severely harassed. I want justice," she said.
IIT Bombay has maintained that no disciplinary action was initiated against the student. In a statement, the institute said the matter was discussed with Wakode by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career. He then returned to his hostel room and was found dead later in the evening, the institute said, adding that the circumstances of the death are being looked into by the appropriate authorities.
More than 400 students staged a protest on campus, disputing the institute's account and alleging that Wakode had been threatened with a one-year suspension. Such a penalty, they said, would have required him to vacate the hostel and could have extended his course beyond four years. The protesters also accused the administration of not disclosing the full circumstances of the death.
"We have come out to demand accountability and transparency from the administration. This isn't the first incident," a protesting student said.
Wakode's death is the third by suicide on the IIT Bombay campus in seven months. A second-year student died by suicide in his hostel room in February, and a 20-year-old second-year BTech student died by suicide in July.
Helplines: Vandrevala Foundation for Mental Health — 9999666555 or help@vandrevalafoundation.com; TISS iCall — 022-25521111 (Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pm). Those in need of support, or who know someone who does, are urged to reach out to a mental health specialist.