IIT Bombay Student Kills Self After Being Caught Using ChatGPT During Exam, 3rd Death On Campus in 6 Months

A second-year IIT Bombay student died by suicide after he was found using a mobile phone during an examination at the Powai campus on Friday evening, triggering student protests.

The deceased was identified as Sahil Wakode, a second-year student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. IIT Bombay said Wakode had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers while the test was underway.

IIT Bombay Says No Disciplinary Action Was Initiated

According to IIT Bombay, no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against Wakode following the examination incident.

The institute said the matter was discussed with him by the examination instructor and the Head of the Department. They counselled him and assured him that the incident would not have an adverse impact on his academic career.

Wakode then returned to his hostel room, where he was later found dead.

IIT Bombay expressed grief over the student's death and said it was providing support to his friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the incident.

"The Institute is extending support to the student's friends, classmates, faculty members, and others affected by this tragic incident," the institute said, adding that the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined by the appropriate authorities

Students Protest, Demand Transparency

Following the death, a group of students gathered on the Powai campus and staged a protest, alleging that the administration had not disclosed all details surrounding the incident.

Some protesters claimed that Wakode had been threatened with a one-year suspension over the examination incident. They alleged that such action could have required him to leave the hostel and stay outside the campus.

Students also claimed that disciplinary action could have delayed completion of his engineering course beyond the standard four-year duration.

Protesters alleged that fear and pressure over possible disciplinary consequences may have played a role in the student's death. These claims have not been independently verified.

"The reason for our protest is that a suicide took place in our college today. That is why we have gathered to protest and demand accountability, transparency, and answers from our administration," a student said.

Another student claimed that several such incidents had occurred on campus this year and questioned whether sufficient steps were being taken to understand their causes.

Police Deploy Personnel On Campus

Police personnel were deployed in large numbers on the campus following the protest. Representatives of the students and the institute administration also held discussions.

Senior police officer Dattatray Nalawade said an investigation into the student's death was underway.

He said students had assembled to raise their concerns following the incident, while the IIT Bombay administration held talks with them in an effort to resolve the situation.

The death is the third reported suicide at the IIT Bombay campus in the past six months.