IIT Bombay Faculty Forum backs professor as Sahil Wakode suicide sparks standoff
Synopsis
A 22-year-old IIT Bombay student died by suicide hours after allegedly being caught using ChatGPT in an exam — and now the Faculty Forum has publicly backed the professor who reported the irregularity, even as students demand independent inquiries into four campus suicides. The standoff is forcing India's elite engineering institutions to confront an unresolved tension between academic integrity and student mental health.
Key Takeaways
Sahil Ravindra Wakode , 22 , was found dead in his hostel room at IIT Bombay on 19 September 2026 , allegedly after being caught using a smartphone and ChatGPT during a mid-semester exam.
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum expressed full solidarity with Professor Suryanarayan Dula , stating he acted within Senate-approved academic policies.
The mid-term examination was held on 18 September 2026 from 11 am to 1 pm ; the irregularity was reported through established institute procedures.
Protesting students have presented 18 demands to the administration, including an independent probe into four campus suicides and mental health training for faculty.
The administration met with protesting students on Sunday night ; no resolution had been reached as of 21 September 2026 .
A deepening standoff has emerged at IIT Bombay between institute authorities and protesting students and parents over the death of Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a 22-year-old student who was found dead in his hostel room on the campus on 19 September 2026. Wakode allegedly died by suicide hours after he was reportedly caught using a mobile phone and ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination — a development that has ignited a fierce debate about academic pressure, institutional procedures, and student welfare at one of India's most prestigious engineering institutes.
What the Faculty Forum Said
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum issued a formal statement expressing grief over Wakode's death and conveying condolences to his family. Simultaneously, the Forum extended its full solidarity with Professor Suryanarayan Dula, the course instructor and invigilator who reported the alleged irregularity to authorities.
The Forum stated that Professor Dula was 'performing his duties in accordance with the academic policies approved by the institute's Senate and currently in force.' It added that it was 'deeply distressed' that the reputation of a professor performing official academic duties was being adversely affected by the incident.
What Happened During the Examination
According to the Faculty Forum's account, a mid-term examination was conducted on 18 September 2026 from 11 am to 1 pm. During the examination, Professor Dula allegedly observed the student in possession of a smartphone and using it without authorisation. Following the institute's established procedure, Professor Dula reported the incident to the institute authorities for further action. Wakode was subsequently found dead in his hostel room later that day.
Student Protests and 18 Demands
The tragedy has triggered widespread protests on campus, with students and parents raising concerns about academic pressure, institutional accountability, and mental health support systems. On Sunday night, the IIT Bombay administration held a meeting with protesting students to address their 18 demands.
These demands reportedly include ensuring student representation in academic committees, an independent investigation into four cases of death by suicide on the campus, and mandatory mental health workshops for professors. The breadth of the demands signals that Wakode's death has crystallised longer-standing grievances about the institution's approach to student welfare.
Broader Context and What's Next
Notably, this is not the first student death by suicide reported at IIT Bombay in recent years — protesters are demanding independent inquiry into four such cases, underscoring a pattern that has drawn scrutiny from students, academics, and civil society. The episode also reignites a national conversation about the use of AI tools like ChatGPT in academic settings and how institutions balance academic integrity enforcement with student mental health considerations.
The administration and protesting students remain far apart as of Monday, 21 September 2026, with no resolution yet reported. The outcome of the administration's engagement with the students' demands is expected to shape both the immediate campus situation and broader policy on student welfare at IITs.
Point of View
But it sidesteps the harder question: whether the consequences of academic misconduct reporting are adequately accompanied by a mental health safety net. The students' demand for an independent inquiry into four suicides, not just one, is the more significant signal — it suggests a systemic concern that the administration has not visibly addressed. IITs have long prided themselves on academic rigour, but rigour without pastoral infrastructure can have fatal costs. The ChatGPT dimension adds a new layer: if institutes have not yet standardised AI-use policies with graduated consequences, punitive action under ambiguous rules will continue to generate exactly this kind of crisis.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sahil Ravindra Wakode and what happened to him?
Sahil Ravindra Wakode was a 22-year-old student at IIT Bombay who was found dead in his hostel room on 19 September 2026, in what is being investigated as a suicide. He was allegedly caught using a smartphone and ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination earlier that day, and the irregularity was reported to the institute authorities before his death.
What did the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum say about the incident?
The Faculty Forum expressed grief over Wakode's death and extended full solidarity with Professor Suryanarayan Dula, the invigilator who reported the alleged academic irregularity. The Forum stated that Professor Dula acted in accordance with academic policies approved by the institute's Senate and raised concern that his reputation was being affected by the fallout.
What are the 18 demands made by protesting students?
The protesting students' demands reportedly include student representation in academic committees, an independent investigation into four cases of death by suicide on the IIT Bombay campus, and mental health workshops for professors, among others. The administration met with students on Sunday night to discuss these demands, but no resolution had been reached as of 21 September 2026.
How many student suicides have been reported at IIT Bombay recently?
Protesting students are calling for an independent investigation into four cases of death by suicide on the IIT Bombay campus, of which Wakode's is the most recent. The specific details and timelines of the earlier cases have not been disclosed in official statements reported so far.
What does this incident mean for AI tools like ChatGPT in Indian exams?
The case has reignited debate about how Indian educational institutions handle the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT during examinations. Critics argue that without clear, graduated policies on AI-related academic misconduct — and a robust mental health support system — punitive reporting procedures can have severe unintended consequences for students.
