Archive · 22 Sep 2026
CCTV Footage Guides Probe Into IIT-Bombay Student’s Suicide
Sahil Wakode was a 20-year-old student at IIT-Bombay.
He died by suicide last Friday.
Earlier that day, he was allegedly found looking at something in his pocket during an exam.
One report says the material may have involved ChatGPT, while another says it was his phone.
A professor questioned him and reportedly took him aside or asked him to leave the exam hall.
Security cameras recorded part of this interaction.
Another camera reportedly showed Sahil entering his hostel room around 1:25 p.m.
Police are collecting the recordings and speaking with students who were present.
They are trying to understand what happened before his death.
Sahil Wakode, a 20-year-old second-year IIT-Bombay student, died by suicide last Friday.
Reports differ on whether Wakode was allegedly caught using ChatGPT or his phone for answers during an exam.
CCTV footage from 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. reportedly shows Professor Suryanarayana Doolla questioning Wakode after noticing him looking toward his pocket.
The footage reportedly shows Wakode being taken aside or asked to leave the examination hall shortly before the paper ended at 1 p.m.
A second recording reportedly shows Wakode entering his hostel room around 1:25 p.m.; investigators say he did not leave afterward.
- Who
- Sahil Wakode, a 20-year-old second-year IIT-Bombay student; Professor Suryanarayana Doolla; and the Mumbai Crime Branch.
- What
- Police are investigating Wakode’s death by suicide after he was allegedly caught looking at a phone or using ChatGPT during an examination.
- When
- Last Friday; the examination-hall footage reportedly covers 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m., and Wakode entered his hostel room around 1:25 p.m.
- Where
- The examination hall and hostel at IIT-Bombay.
- Why
- Investigators are examining the examination-hall interaction, reviewing CCTV footage, and recording statements from students who were present.
- Student
- Sahil Wakode, 20, a second-year student
- Institution
- IIT-Bombay
- Investigation
- Mumbai Crime Branch
- Reported allegation
- Reports variously say Wakode was allegedly caught using ChatGPT or his phone for answers during an exam.
- Exam footage
- Reportedly covers 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m., minutes before the paper was due to end at 1 p.m.
- Reported interaction
- Professor Suryanarayana Doolla questioned Wakode, who was reportedly taken aside or asked to leave the examination hall.
- Hostel footage
- Wakode reportedly entered his hostel room around 1:25 p.m. and did not leave afterward.