Tension has continued at IIT Bombay following the death of 22-year-old student Sahil Ravindra Wakode. The incident triggered protests on the campus, with students raising questions about institutional procedures, examination-related action and student safety. Amid the protests, IIT Bombay Director Shirish B. Kedare announced that Dean of Student Affairs Professor Suryanarayan Doola had been suspended with immediate effect. The institute has indicated that further action will depend on the findings of the inquiry.

Sahil Wakode was a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay. He was from Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district. Following his death, concern and anger grew among students, who called for greater transparency in the handling of the circumstances surrounding the case.

IIT Bombay has also apologised over information previously provided about the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death. The institute said it regretted the earlier information and acknowledged concerns related to the way the circumstances had initially been communicated. The administration has since engaged with students and taken steps in response to the situation.

According to the information available about the case, Sahil had allegedly been caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination a few hours before his death. It was also alleged that he had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT. An examination-related disciplinary process was reportedly initiated following the incident. However, the circumstances surrounding the action taken against him, the extent of pressure he may have experienced and the sequence of events before his death are matters that remain subject to investigation.

Sahil’s family has made serious allegations regarding the circumstances he faced. They have alleged institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination. Students involved in the protests have also claimed that Sahil was placed under excessive pressure following the examination incident and that he was allegedly threatened with suspension from academic activities. These claims have not been independently established and remain part of the investigation.

Following a complaint from Sahil’s parents, police registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes law relating to abetment of suicide. A professor has been named as an accused in the case. The investigation has reportedly been transferred to the Crime Branch, which is examining the events and circumstances preceding Sahil’s death.

The case led to a large student protest on the night of September 20. Hundreds of students reportedly gathered near the main gate of IIT Bombay to raise their concerns. Their demands extended beyond action against one individual and included broader questions concerning student safety, institutional accountability and an impartial inquiry.

IIT Bombay Director Shirish Kedare personally reached the protest site and held discussions with the students. The interaction reportedly continued for around three hours. Students used the meeting to put forward their demands and seek assurances regarding the investigation and institutional response.

Students reportedly presented a list of 18 demands. These included immediate action against the professor named in the case, an independent inquiry mechanism, a public apology, support for the affected family and measures related to student safety. The administration has indicated agreement with the demands. The implementation of individual measures, however, will depend on administrative and investigative processes.

The suspension of Professor Suryanarayan Doola has emerged as one of the most significant administrative decisions following the incident. The suspension is effective immediately, while any further action is expected to follow the completion of the inquiry. The move does not by itself determine final responsibility in the case, which remains subject to investigation.

At the same time, the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has expressed support for the professor named in the controversy. The faculty body has maintained that the professor was carrying out his responsibilities in accordance with rules approved by the institute’s Senate. This position contrasts with allegations raised by the student’s family and protesting students regarding institutional pressure and discrimination.

IIT Bombay has also said that professors had spoken with Sahil and reassured him that the examination-related incident would not have a lasting negative impact on his academic career. The institute’s position focuses on the discussions that took place with the student and its understanding that the matter was being handled through institutional procedures.

The case has raised broader questions about student welfare, academic discipline, examination procedures and grievance mechanisms at major educational institutions. Students have argued that disciplinary processes should take a student’s circumstances and well-being into account. Institutions, on the other hand, are also responsible for maintaining examination rules and academic standards. Establishing what happened immediately before Sahil’s death will therefore be an important part of the ongoing investigation.

The incident has also prompted IIT Bombay to consider changes to physical safety arrangements in student hostels. The institute has decided to replace ceiling fans in hostel rooms with wall-mounted fans following multiple student suicide cases on the campus. According to the information provided by the institute, the first batch of replacement fans has already arrived on campus.

The move is being presented as a preventive safety measure. However, the wider discussion among students and the academic community is that physical safety measures alone may not address the full range of factors linked to student distress. Accessible counselling, effective grievance mechanisms, supportive academic environments and timely assistance can also play an important role in student welfare.

The case is now progressing on several fronts, including the police investigation, the institutional inquiry and the demands raised by students. Following the suspension of the Dean of Student Affairs, attention will now focus on what the investigations establish about the circumstances leading up to Sahil’s death and the role of the individuals named in the allegations.

The controversy has placed student safety and institutional accountability at the centre of discussion at IIT Bombay. Several allegations and claims remain under examination, and final responsibility cannot be determined until the relevant investigations are completed. For now, the institute has apologised for earlier information, taken administrative action, and engaged with protesting students, while the police investigation continues.