Amidst ongoing student unrest, the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay on Monday (September 21, 2026) issued an apology for its earlier statements “concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil.”

The apology, made in a post on X, comes as the Mumbai Police has transferred the probe into the death of a second-year student at IIT-Bombay to the Crime Branch.

The student, Sahil, was found dead in his hostel room on Friday (September 18, 2026) after a professor had reported him for possessing a phone during the examination. The professor, Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was invigilating the exam, has been named in the FIR along with other institute officials. 

In an initial statement on Saturday (September 19, 2026), just after reports emerged about the Sahil’s demise, the institute had said that “the student was found using a mobile phone in the exam hall. He had uploaded the examination question paper on ChatGPT to seek answers.”

“No disciplinary action was initiated against the student. The matter was also discussed with the student by the instructor, the faculty advisor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career,” the institute had further said in the statement.

Sahil’s family, however, has said he was subjected to casteist remarks. His father, Ravindra, said in the FIR that his son had told him that Mr. Doolla had harassed him for three months.

Now, apologising for their earlier statement, IIT-Bombay said it has deemed it inappropriate to “have set out or characterised details relating to the events preceding his [Sahil’s] demise before they had been duly established through the appropriate investigative process.”

“The details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities. In view of the ongoing investigation,” it said today (September 21, 2026).

The institute also took to social media to deny any reports surrounding the Director’s resignation. “Director IIT Bombay has NOT resigned. We categorically state that the related news is false,” it said.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).

The Mumbai Police late on Saturday (September 19, 2026) transferred the probe into the death of a second-year student at IIT-Bombay to the Crime Branch, saying an officer of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police will lead the investigation.

On Sunday (September 20, 2026), the Faculty Forum of IIT Bombay expressed condolences to the family of the student but stood by Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who has been named in the FIR along with other institute officials. The forum said Mr. Doolla discharged his duties in line with academic policies approved by the institute’s Senate.

Referring to the incident during an examination that allegedly led to the death, the forum said Mr. Doolla reported the incident as part of the institute-approved procedure and said it was “absolutely distressed” at the damage done to his reputation.

The student, Sahil, was found dead in his hostel room on Friday (September 18, 2026) after Mr. Doolla reported him for possessing a phone during the examination. The professor was invigilating the exam. Reports said Sahil had uploaded the question paper on an AI platform.

Sahil’s family said he was subjected to casteist remarks. His father, Ravindra, said in the FIR that his son had told him that Mr. Doolla had harassed him for three months. The family did not file a complaint with the institute at that time. The FIR has invoked the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The family and some students said that on the day of the examination, officials took Sahil out of the hall and threatened him with suspension.

IIT-Bombay, however, said that no disciplinary action was initiated against the student, adding that officials counselled Sahil and assured him that the incident would not affect his academic career.

Institute director Shireesh Kedare denied caste-based discrimination and said that caste-related information about the students remains confidential and is not available to faculty or administrators. The institute’s SC/ST cell said it did not receive a complaint from Sahil regarding caste-based discrimination.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).

The Mumbai Police on Saturday (September 19, 2026) booked IIT Bombay faculty member Suryanarayan Dulla, alleging caste abuse and abetment to suicide, a day after a 22-year-old student was found dead in his hostel room.

The student, Sahil Wakode, was pursuing his second year in BTech Energy Science. In a statement, IIT Bombay said he died by suicide after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during an examination.

The police filed a first information report on Saturday (September 19, 2026) on a complaint from the student’s father, Chakradhar Wakode. Mr. Dulla, working in the Energy Science department, was booked under various sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and on abetment to suicide charge. 

“When Sahil was studying in the second year, when I met him, he said that for the last three months, on the instructions of Director Shri Shireesh B. Kedare, faculty member Suryanarayan Dulla had been abusing him using caste terms. Mr. Dulla told him that he was from a ‘lower caste and he [Mr. Dulla] can harass him and implicate him in any false case.’ After that, I gave him mental support,” Mr. Chakradhar said in the FIR.

Mr. Chakradhar mentioned “other senior officers” in addition to Mr. Dulla, in his complaint.

In its initial statement expressing condolences, IIT Bombay said Sahil had uploaded the third semester examination question paper on ChatGPT to seek answers. Going by the statement of a student who was also present in the same building during the examination, Mr. Dulla caught Sahil and allegedly threatened debarment. Mr. Dulla also told him to attend a meeting the next day regarding the incident, the student said. Sahil left the examination hall immediately and was later found dead in his room in hostel number 4 on the campus. 

Students protest

After the students staged a protest, the Director of the Institute, Shireesh Kedare, met them.

The student said that a high-stress environment prevailed in IIT Bombay, which is among the top technology institutes in India. “This is the second suicide in hostel four in recent months,” the student said in a telephonic conversation. 

The student, who is among the protesters, said the resignation of the IIT Bombay Director was one of their demands. The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).

A 22-year-old student of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay ended his life in his hostel room after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during an examination, according to a statement by the institution.

Sahil Ravindra Wakode was a second-year B.Tech. Energy Science and Engineering student, and hailed from Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, police said.

According to a statement from IIT Bombay, Mr. Wakode had allegedly uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers during the exam. The incident happened on the fifth day of the third semester examination, which was being held between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Going by the statement of a student who was also present in the same building as the examination hall, Mr. Wakode was allegedly caught using his mobile phone. The institute’s examination rules bar usage of cell phones, smartwatches or any such electronic gadgets in the examination hall. An Energy Science professor who caught Mr. Wakode in the hall allegedly threatened debarment for a year and asked Mr. Wakode to attend a meeting the next day regarding the incident, the student said. The student was later found dead in his room at Hostel 4 within the campus.

No note was recovered from the spot, police said. The Powai police have registered an accidental death report (ADR) and sent the body for post-mortem examination.

Further investigation is underway to ascertain the motive behind the death, the official said.

Students protest

Meanwhile, students of the institute took out a march in protest of the incident. As the incident has drawn attention to IIT Bombay , which is among the top technology institutes in India, the student alleged a high stress environment within the college. “This is the second death in the three months since I joined hostel 4, and the third in the last 5-6 months,” the student said in telephone conversation. 

The student who is also part of the protesting students, said that the resignation of the IIT Bombay Director was one of their demands. 

Later in the day, Director of the Institute Shireesh Kedare met the protesting students. 

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)