Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Justice Mukta Gupta Leads Reconstituted IIT Delhi Death Inquiry
IIT Delhi has created a new group to investigate the death of physics student Rishikesh Kumar.
The group will be led by retired judge Justice Mukta Gupta.
The earlier proposed leader, former Uttarakhand police chief Ashok Kumar, stepped aside because of other commitments.
Students had asked for a retired High Court judge to lead the investigation.
The new group includes a psychiatry professor, four students, and the IIT Delhi Registrar.
It will look at what happened to Rishikesh and how the institute’s offices handled student welfare.
It will also talk to students and teachers and suggest ways to improve support systems.
The group is expected to finish its report within two weeks.
IIT Delhi has also proposed an outside person to review unresolved student complaints and announced financial help for Rishikesh’s family.
IIT Delhi reconstituted its external inquiry panel into the death of 31-year-old MSc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar.
Retired Delhi High Court judge Justice Mukta Gupta replaced former Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar as panel chair.
The committee includes an AIIMS New Delhi psychiatry professor, four student representatives, and the IIT Delhi Registrar.
The panel must submit its report within two weeks and examine Kumar’s death, administrative functioning, and student-support systems.
Kumar died on August 22 after falling from the sixth floor of IIT Delhi’s Lecture Hall Complex; police said no suicide note was recovered.
- Who
- IIT Delhi, retired Delhi High Court judge Justice Mukta Gupta, Professor Pratap Sharan, four student representatives, the IIT Delhi Registrar, and former Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar are connected to the inquiry into Rishikesh Kumar’s death.
- What
- IIT Delhi has reconstituted an external inquiry panel to investigate Kumar’s death and review administrative functioning and student-support systems.
- When
- Kumar died on August 22; the panel is required to submit its report within two weeks. The articles do not specify the year of August 22.
- Where
- Kumar died after falling from the sixth floor of the Lecture Hall Complex on the IIT Delhi campus.
- Why
- The inquiry followed protests and student demands for an independent investigation, accountability in student-welfare administration, and improvements to support systems.
Student Demands
Institute Response
Panel leadership
Student Demands
Students objected to the original panel and sought an inquiry headed by a retired High Court judge.
Institute Response
IIT Delhi replaced proposed chair Ashok Kumar with retired Delhi High Court judge Justice Mukta Gupta after Ashok Kumar withdrew.
Student representation
Student Demands
Students sought greater involvement in the inquiry; the number of representatives increased from two in the initial panel to four.
Institute Response
The reconstituted committee includes four student representatives alongside institute and external members.
Investigation scope
Student Demands
Protesters demanded an independent investigation, accountability in student-welfare administration, and financial assistance for Kumar’s family.
Institute Response
The institute’s panel will examine the death, administrative processes, student and faculty concerns, and ways to strengthen student-support systems; IIT Delhi also announced financial assistance.
- Student
- Rishikesh Kumar, a 31-year-old MSc Physics student
- Institution
- IIT Delhi
- Panel chair
- Retired Delhi High Court judge Justice Mukta Gupta
- Previous chair
- Former Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar, who withdrew citing prior commitments
- Committee members
- Professor Pratap Sharan, four student representatives, and the IIT Delhi Registrar
- Deadline
- The panel has been asked to submit its report within two weeks
- Incident
- Kumar died after falling from the sixth floor of the Lecture Hall Complex; police said no suicide note was recovered
- Additional measures
- IIT Delhi proposed an external ombudsperson and announced financial assistance for Kumar’s family
