A tragic incident has unfolded at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, where a 22-year-old student, Sahil Ravindra Wakode, was found dead by suicide in his hostel room on Friday evening, September 19, 2026. The discovery came hours after he was reportedly caught using a mobile phone during an examination, allegedly to access ChatGPT for answers.
Allegations of AI Use in Exam
Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was a native of Yavatmal district in Maharashtra. According to reports, he was observed using his mobile phone in the examination hall earlier that Friday. It is alleged that he uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers during the test.
Following the examination, Wakode returned to his room in Hostel Number 4. When his hostel mates found him unresponsive and alerted authorities, police were called to the Powai campus. Officials later confirmed that Wakode was found hanging from the ceiling fan.
Campus Outcry and Official Response
The Powai police have registered an accidental death report (ADR) and sent the body for post-mortem examination. No suicide note was found at the scene. The incident has ignited protests across the IIT Bombay campus, with students demanding a thorough inquiry into the circumstances that led to Wakode's death.
In a statement issued late on Friday, the IIT Bombay administration addressed the situation. The institute clarified that no disciplinary action had been initiated against the student regarding the alleged exam misconduct. Furthermore, the instructor and the Head of the Department had reportedly counselled Wakode, assuring him that the incident would not negatively impact his academic career.
"No disciplinary action was initiated against the student. The matter was also discussed with the student by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career," the institute stated.
The institute also affirmed its commitment to supporting Wakode's friends, classmates, and faculty members affected by the tragedy, and confirmed that the circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation.
Pattern of Tragedies at IIT Bombay
This incident marks the third reported suicide on the IIT Bombay campus within the past seven months. A second-year student died by suicide in February, followed by another 20-year-old second-year BTech student in July 2026, at the beginning of the new academic semester. The recurring nature of these tragedies has intensified calls for a deeper examination of student welfare and mental health support systems within the institution.
As police continue their investigation, the student community at IIT Bombay remains vigilant, pressing for answers and systemic changes to prevent further loss of life.