IIT Kanpur PhD students blame professor for Ankit Yadav’s death; demand judicial inquiry, suspension

NEW DELHI: A day after a PhD scholar allegedly died by suicide, all reseach and postdoctoral students of the department of chemistry at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) have written to the IIT-K director urging for a judicial inquiry into the incident and mental harassment by a professor.

“It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that Ankit Yadav, a PhD scholar in the Department of Chemistry, IIT Kanpur, took his own life today due to the immense mental pressure faced in the lab,” the research scholars said in an official statement. “Severe mental harassment, exploitation, and toxic work environment” created by the professor has now led to “a tragic loss”, the students alleged.

Ankit Yadav joined IIT Kanpur in July 2024 with a UGC fellowship. “He was an exceptionally bright student with a strong academic background,” his classmates said.

He completed MSc Chemistry from IIT Delhi and BSc (Hons) Chemistry from Delhi University. He also obtained All India Rank 44 (AIR 44) in CSIR-NET JRF December 2023, AIR 197 in GATE 2024, AIR 60 in IIT JAM 2022, and rank 5 in JNU entrance 2021.

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Video cameras with voice recording in IIT-K lab

“Despite his outstanding academic credentials and research potential, he succumbed to the relentless mental torture and inhumane work environment” created by the professor, the PhD scholars said.

Explaining further, the research students alleged that the professor installed video cameras with voice recording in the lab, violating students’ privacy and adding to their psychological distress. “He frequently forces students to skip lunch and dinner to attend prolonged work meetings. Even today, he forced students to work until 11:00 pm without any regard for their health,” the students claimed.

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PhD scholars demand closure of lab

This is not the first time a student is affected by the professor’s behavior, the postdoc students said a total of 10 students have already left their PhD and postdoctoral degrees in recent years “due to his arrogant and torturous behavior”. Ankit Yadav is one of his students, who hanged himself to death on Monday. The letter also had a list of affected students, including 5 PhD students, 3 postdocs, and 2 project students.

Citing the problems faced by the students and the “loss of a brilliant young researcher”, the students demanded for a thorough investigation into the professor’s actions and his role in creating a toxic research environment.

The PhD students have also demanded the IIT Kanpur director to suspend him and close his lab until the investigation is complete. Further, they also urged the administration for mental health support for all affected students and “implementation of strict policies to prevent such incidents in the future”.

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.