The death of Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a second-year B.Tech student at IIT Bombay, has garnered significant attention. In relation to this incident, the institute has publicly apologized on social media for its previous statement. Furthermore, the institute has clarified the situation regarding the case involving Professor Suryanarayan Dulla.
The institute acknowledged that commenting on the causes or circumstances of the incident before the police investigation was complete was inappropriate and irresponsible. Meanwhile, student representatives of IIT Bombay have also issued an official statement clarifying allegations related to cheating. The student representatives emphasized that they do not support any form of plagiarism or academic misconduct. However, Sahil's death is a deeply tragic event that has compelled a reconsideration of the institute's functioning and procedures. They stated that the students' demonstration was not to justify academic misconduct but to highlight long-standing systemic issues and demand strong institutional reforms so that no student has to face such situations in the future.
The student representatives also mentioned that an open forum was held with the Director and other members of the institute administration, giving students an opportunity to raise their concerns and questions directly. Regarding Professor Suryanarayan Dulla, the students clarified that their stance was not to blame him or draw conclusions before the investigation. The students demanded that he be relieved of his administrative responsibilities as Dean of Administrative Affairs until the investigation is complete, so that it can proceed completely independently.
In this context, the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has released a clarification regarding the ongoing media reports concerning Professor Suryanarayan Dulla. The Forum confirmed that Prof. Dulla has not been suspended from the services of IIT Bombay and remains a faculty member of the institute. A statement issued by the Forum's President, Prof. Rajkumar S. Pant, stated that Prof. Dulla was temporarily removed from the responsibilities of Dean (Administrative Affairs) with the aim of ensuring an independent and impartial investigation into the incident of September 18, 2026. The Forum asserted its strong support for its colleague, Prof. Dulla.
Student organizations outside the campus, AISA and others, are also protesting. Sana Salim, an English Literature student from Mumbai University and a demonstrator for AISA, said that an apology only on social media is not enough. She demanded that protests would continue until full accountability and transparency are established, and first demanded the resignation of the Director and the concerned professors.
This incident occurred at the Powai campus of IIT Bombay, where Sahil Ravindra Wakode (22), a second-year B.Tech student of the Energy Science and Engineering Department, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his hostel room on Friday evening. This incident took place a few hours after he was caught using mobile phones and ChatGPT during the mid-semester examination. The family had alleged institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination, which led to the students starting protests. The student protesters claimed that Sahil was under immense pressure and was being threatened with academic suspension.
Following the complaint by Sahil's parents, the police registered an FIR under the charges of abetment to suicide, incorporating both the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST Act (Prevention of Atrocities). During the preliminary investigation, the statement issued by the institute mentioned some circumstances related to the incident, which were not officially proven. Subsequently, questions arose about the institute's statement, and the administration publicly apologized on social media.
