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

A second-year student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay died by suicide on Friday evening, hours after he was caught using a mobile phone during an examination, the institute has said.

The student, identified as Sahil Wakode of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room later that evening. According to the institute, during the exam he had uploaded the question paper on ChatGPT to seek answers.

In a statement, IIT Bombay said that no disciplinary action was initiated against Wakode. The matter was discussed with him 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 subsequently returned to his hostel room, the institute added.

Following the death, students gathered on the IIT Powai campus to protest, alleging that the administration was not disclosing the full circumstances of the incident. The protesting students claimed that Wakode had been threatened with a one-year suspension, which would have required him to vacate the hostel and live outside campus. They said such a penalty could also have extended his engineering course from four years to five or longer.

The students alleged that fear and pressure over possible disciplinary action may have contributed to Wakode taking the extreme step. The claim has not been independently verified.

Demanding accountability, transparency and answers from the administration, a student said, "The reason for our protest is that a suicide took place in our college today. That is why we have gathered to protest, to demand accountability, transparency, and answers from our administration."

The institute has maintained that no punitive action was taken against the student.

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