2 hrs ago
IIT Bombay Clarifies Director’s Status After Student Death
Sahil Ravindra Wakode was a 22-year-old student at IIT Bombay.
He was found dead in his room on the institute’s campus on Friday evening.
Earlier, IIT Bombay said he had allegedly used ChatGPT during an examination.
The institute also said he had not faced disciplinary action and had been counselled.
Wakode’s family said he had faced harassment and caste-based discrimination.
Students protested and said he had experienced serious academic pressure.
Police opened a case after a complaint from his parents.
IIT Bombay later apologised for describing the events before investigators had confirmed them.
The institute also said its director had not resigned, despite an earlier account that he would resign.
IIT Bombay said Director Shireesh Kedare has not resigned and called reports of his resignation false.
The institute apologised for earlier statements describing events before Sahil Ravindra Wakode’s death had been established through investigation.
Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year BTech student, was found dead in his hotel room on the Powai campus on Friday evening.
His family alleged institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination, while students protested over alleged academic pressure and threats.
Police registered an abetment-of-suicide case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act; a professor was named as an accused.
- Who
- Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay; IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare; Wakode’s family, students and police are also involved.
- What
- IIT Bombay clarified that its director had not resigned and apologised for earlier communications about Wakode’s death, which is under investigation.
- Where
- IIT Bombay’s Powai campus in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- When
- Wakode was found dead on Friday evening; the institute issued its clarification on Monday, September 21.
- Why
- The clarification followed conflicting statements about the director’s status and concerns that the institute had characterised events preceding the death before the investigation was complete.
Family and Student Protesters
IIT Bombay’s Revised Position
Circumstances before the death
Family and Student Protesters
Wakode’s family alleged that he faced institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination; protesting students claimed he faced severe pressure and threats of academic suspension.
IIT Bombay’s Revised Position
IIT Bombay said it was inappropriate to characterise the events preceding his death before they had been established through the appropriate investigative process.
Director’s resignation
Family and Student Protesters
Protesters said Director Shireesh Kedare told them late Sunday night that he would resign on Monday, subject to following the required process.
IIT Bombay’s Revised Position
IIT Bombay stated on Monday that the director had not resigned and called related reports false.
Exam incident
Family and Student Protesters
The family’s allegations and the student protest followed an earlier institute communication linking the events to an alleged examination violation.
IIT Bombay’s Revised Position
The earlier institute statement said no disciplinary action had been initiated, and that an instructor and department head counselled Wakode and assured him the incident would not affect his academic career.
Key facts
- Student
- Sahil Ravindra Wakode, 22, a second-year BTech student in Energy Science and Engineering
- Incident
- Wakode was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his hotel room on Friday evening
- Institute response
- IIT Bombay said Director Shireesh Kedare had not resigned and apologised for its earlier communication
- Exam-related claim
- An earlier institute statement alleged that Wakode uploaded an examination paper to ChatGPT for answers
- Family allegations
- Wakode’s family alleged institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination
- Police case
- An FIR was registered for alleged abetment of suicide and under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
- Investigation
- The case is being investigated by the Crime Branch, and a professor was named as an accused
Quotes
IIT Bombay
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, responding to reports that its director had resigned.
“We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil.”
theprint.in
“We categorically state that the related news is false.”
theprint.in
Sources
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