IIT Bombay Student Suicide: Crime Branch scans CCTV footage from exam hall, hostel

MUMBAI: Four days after IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode died by suicide after he was allegedly caught using ChatGPT during an examination, the Mumbai Police Crime Branch is analysing CCTV footage from the exam hall and hostel, for a timeline of events leading up to his death. IIT Bombay Faculty Forum president Rajkumar Pant said 22-year-old Sahil had not approached the institute's SC/ST cell with any complaint in the recent past. Police on Tuesday detained RPI activists protesting outside the IIT-Bombay gate over Sahil's death.

Sahil, a second-year B Tech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging in his hostel room on the Powai campus on September 18 evening, hours after being caught allegedly using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.

The IIT Bombay has initiated replacement of ceiling fans with wall-mounted fans after Sahil's death, sources familiar with the development said. The image of a batch of wall-mounted fans arriving at the campus as part of 'renovation work' has gone viral on social media. Sahil's death case was transferred to the Crime Branch on September 19 for further probe following widespread student protests on campus.

Also read IIT Ropar: Faculty ‘harassment’, forced resignation, a self-argued case – how a scholar won her PhD seat back

IIT Bombay Student Suicide: CCTV footage

According to officials, CCTV cameras inside the examination hall captured Sahil's movements before a professor approached him and led him away from other students after he was allegedly caught copying. Subsequent footage showed Sahil walking across the campus to his hostel room after exiting the examination hall. He was not seen leaving his room thereafter, an official said.

The student was later found dead inside his hostel room. Investigators are compiling and cross-referencing camera feeds from multiple locations across the institute to map his movements and reconstruct the sequence of events preceding the incident.

IIT Bombay removes admin dean Doolla

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay on Monday removed Suryanarayana Doolla as the dean of Administrative Affairs following protests by students and political activists over Sahil's suicide, which led to a case of abetment and caste discrimination registered against him. An official declined to comment on reports that the CCTV footage shows Doolla questioning Sahil after appearing to notice him looking at something in his pocket, before taking him aside from other students.

The campus witnessed protests following the student's suicide, prompting the police to step up security measures. Student representatives said their agitation was not aimed at defending academic misconduct, but rather at highlighting broader systemic issues and demanding institutional reforms.

A student delegation has submitted a list of demands to the IIT Bombay Director, who acknowledged the concerns and assured implementation within specific timelines, officials said.

If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts or tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling 9820466726 or visiting AASRA’s official website or can call iCALL on 9152987821. Here are some more helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.