IIT Bombay postpones exams, reviews discipline rules after student’s death

MUMBAI: The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has postponed two days of mid-semester examinations and begun reconsidering its procedures for suspected academic misconduct following the death of second-year student Sahil Wakode.

Examinations previously scheduled for September 26 and 27 will now be held on October 10 and 11, according to a communication issued to students. The original timetable will remain in place on the revised dates.

The institute has constituted a 10-member committee to examine the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death and recommend clearer, more student-sensitive procedures for invigilators. The panel includes students, faculty members and specialists, and its proposed rules will require approval from the IIT Bombay Senate before implementation.

Disciplinary process under review

The institutional review concerns the broader process used when students are suspected of violating examination rules. Proposals under discussion include providing students with clearly defined procedural protections and allowing them to consult senior student mentors before appearing before a disciplinary committee.

IIT Bombay has maintained that no formal disciplinary action had been initiated against Wakode before his death. It said he had spoken with the course instructor and head of department following an examination incident and had been counselled about the matter.

Wakode died in his hostel room on September 18, hours after he was suspected of using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination. An initial institute communication referred to the phone allegedly being used to access ChatGPT. IIT Bombay later apologised for characterising events that remained under investigation, acknowledging that conclusions should not have been presented before the facts were established.

The available information does not establish that the examination incident caused Wakode’s death. Investigators are examining what happened in the examination hall, his subsequent movements and other circumstances relevant to the case.

Professor placed on leave

IIT Bombay’s Board of Governors has asked Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, the invigilator involved in the examination episode, to proceed on leave while inquiries continue. He had earlier been relieved of his administrative responsibilities as dean. The leave is an institutional measure and does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing.

Student representatives have said they do not support cheating or any other form of academic misconduct. They have also stressed that their position does not presume Doolla’s guilt and that any temporary removal from administrative duties should be treated as a precaution intended to protect the independence of the investigation.

The representatives said the protests were focused on accountability, transparency, mental-health support, grievance redressal and student participation in institutional decisions. Students submitted an 18-point charter that included demands for improved counselling and psychiatric services, a mechanism to track complaints and a review of disciplinary practices.

Caste allegations remain disputed

Wakode’s parents have alleged that he experienced caste-based discrimination and harassment. His father’s complaint led Mumbai Police to register a case naming Doolla and others under provisions concerning alleged abetment of suicide and caste-based offences. The family also held a hunger strike while demanding arrests and a fair investigation.

IIT Bombay has denied that caste discrimination occurred in this case. The institute’s SC/ST Students and Staff Cell said Wakode had not filed a caste-discrimination complaint with the cell. The absence of a complaint does not resolve the family’s allegations, which remain part of the police investigation.

Campus protests followed the death, although views among students have not been uniform. Some participants sought stronger action against the professor and administration, while student representatives later emphasised due process and warned against prejudging the inquiry.

Crime Branch investigation continues

The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has taken over the case under the supervision of senior officers. Investigators have recorded statements from students, teachers and staff, including people who were present during the examination. They are also examining CCTV footage and attempting to retrieve information from Wakode’s locked phone.

Police have urged the public not to spread misinformation or draw premature conclusions. No investigative finding has yet established whether caste discrimination occurred, whether any threat of suspension was made, or what factors led to Wakode’s death.

The committee’s recommendations, the police investigation and the institute’s implementation of promised reforms will determine what further action follows. Until those processes are completed, the institutional changes are confirmed, while the allegations against individuals and claims about causation remain unresolved.