The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) plans to replace ceiling fans with wall-mounted fans in student hostels. According to sources, this decision has been under consideration for the past two months and was recently approved. Students also claim that the first batch of wall-mounted fans has already arrived on campus.
This replacement was part of the measures the institute promised students in July, following the death of another student by suicide.
The situation escalated amid ongoing disputes related to the death of Sahil Wakode, a 20-year-old second-year undergraduate student in technical sciences, on the institute's premises. Sahil was found dead in his hostel room on Friday after allegedly being caught using his mobile phone during an exam. It is reported that he uploaded the examination questionnaire to an artificial intelligence platform to search for answers.
Sahil's parents and some students alleged that he was removed from the classroom and threatened with suspension. However, IIT Bombay stated that no disciplinary action was taken against him; instead, he was provided with counseling and assured that the incident would not affect his academic career.
IIT Bombay Director Shirish Kedare also denied allegations of caste discrimination at the institute, emphasizing that student information regarding caste is kept confidential and is inaccessible to faculty or administrators. The institute's SC/ST cell reported that it had received no complaints from Sahil regarding caste discrimination.
Meanwhile, Director Kedare held a three-hour meeting late at night on Sunday with students who gathered at the main gates of the institute to protest the suicide of undergraduate student Sahil Wakode. During this meeting, which students broadcast live, the institute administration discussed and signed a list of 18 demands put forward by the protesters. An official institute representative stated that discussions would continue and that 'due process' would be followed. The institute's governing council is scheduled for Monday to discuss this matter, and an open day for students is expected on the same day.

