IIM Bangalore student found dead near hostel campus; police suspect accidental fall

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore has reported the death of Nilay Kailashbhai Patel, a second-year student of the post-graduate programme (PGP) in management. As per reports from various sources, the student was found dead on the hostel premises early Sunday morning.

“It is with profound sadness that IIM Bangalore shares the news of the untimely passing of our PGP 2023-25 student, Nilay Kailashbhai Patel. A bright student, and a much-loved friend to many, Nilay will be sorely missed by the entire IIMB family,” IIM Bangalore posted on its official X account.

According to a report by the Times of India, the student had recently secured a job at a fashion e-commerce firm and was scheduled to start his career on Monday, January 6. The police stated that the incident occurred on Saturday night when Patel was returning to his room after celebrating his birthday at a friend's place on campus.

The Times of India further reported that the Mico layout police stated that Patel was found unconscious on the hostel lawn around 6:30 am by security guards. A medical team arrived promptly and attempted to revive him using cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). When he did not respond, they transported him to a hospital on Bannerghatta Road, where he was declared dead on arrival.

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No suicide note found

“It is suspected that Patel may have lost balance and accidentally fell from the second floor while returning to his room,” the police said. No suicide note was found, nor were there any indications that Patel had any issues that would lead him to take this extreme step, according to the officer. Based on a complaint filed by his parents, who live in Gujarat, the police have registered a case of unnatural death, and further investigation is underway.

AIOBCSA demands clarification

After the incident, the All-India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) demanded that the institution clarify the issue. “We demand @iimb_official to provide clarity on this critical issue. The institution lacks adequate mechanisms to address the concerns of marginalized communities, a matter we have repeatedly highlighted,” the AIOBCSA posted on X.

“We call upon @EduMinOfIndia to take immediate action to prevent student suicides and to strengthen institutional support systems for students from marginalized backgrounds,” it further posted.