Mumbai Police has filed an Accidental Death Report (ADR) following the death of Sahil Wakode, a second-year student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, who was found unresponsive in his hostel room on the Powai campus on Friday evening, 19 September 2026. The incident has triggered student protests and renewed scrutiny over mental health and disciplinary practices at one of India's premier engineering institutions.

What Happened

Wakode, a resident of Yavatmal, Maharashtra, was enrolled in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. According to IIT Bombay, he had uploaded an examination question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers while the test was underway — a violation that was flagged by invigilators.

Following the incident, Wakode was called in for a discussion with the examination instructor and the Head of the Department. The institute stated that he was counselled and assured that the episode would not adversely affect his academic standing. No formal disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against him at that point.

After the meeting, Wakode returned to his hostel room and was found dead there later that evening. His body has been sent for post-mortem examination, the results of which are awaited. His family, from Yavatmal, has arrived in Mumbai, and their statements are being recorded by police.

Student Protests Erupt on Campus

News of Wakode's death sparked demonstrations on the IIT Powai campus, with a significant number of students gathering to protest what they described as a lack of transparency from the administration. Protesting students alleged that Wakode had been threatened with a one-year suspension — a claim the institute has not corroborated.

Students further alleged that such a suspension would have required him to vacate his hostel accommodation and could have extended the duration of his engineering programme beyond the standard four years. They argued that the fear of these consequences may have contributed to his death. However, these allegations remain unverified and are not part of the police's confirmed findings.

One student reportedly told fellow protestors that several similar incidents had taken place on campus this year and questioned whether adequate measures were being taken to address their root causes. Heavy police deployment was subsequently ordered across the campus.

Institute's Response

In an official statement, IIT Bombay expressed grief over Wakode's passing and said it was extending support to his friends, classmates, faculty members, and others affected by the tragedy. “The Institute is extending support to the student’s friends, classmates, faculty members, and others affected by this tragic incident,” the statement read, adding that the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined by the appropriate authorities.

The institute maintained that the conversation with Wakode had been reassuring in nature and that he had been specifically told the examination incident would not harm his academic career.

A Pattern of Concern at IIT Powai

This is reportedly the third student death at the IIT Powai campus in the past six months — a frequency that has drawn sharp attention to the institution's student welfare infrastructure. Notably, each incident has reignited debate about academic pressure, disciplinary mechanisms, and the adequacy of mental health resources at India's top technical universities.

An investigation by Mumbai Police is underway, and further details, including the post-mortem findings, are expected to shape the direction of the probe.