‘I am sorry, not good enough’: IIT Madras student’s WhatsApp status before death, brother demands probe

NEW DELHI: Three students were reported dead in a month at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras). The institute has constituted an internal committee to investigate the incident, as per reports. The ChintaBar, a student body recognised by IIT Madras, today said that IIT Madras should investigate all the aspects of allegations raised by the student’s brother.

A PhD student, Sachin Kumar Jain was found dead on March 31. Following which the institute expressed condolences and formed a committee to look into the matter. On April 6, Sachin Kumar’s brother Bhavesh Kumar had written to the IIT-M director to take action against the people responsible for the death.

His brother alleged that the behaviour of Sachin’s guide has worsened his mental health. Narrating one such incident, his brother said that the guide had called Sachin back from a conference at IIT Roorkee without attending the event as he had reached the place two days earlier.

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“The guide blew this out of proportion. This led to severe mental pressure on Sachin. Sachin’s guide was treating him in a very inhumane manner though he was well aware that Sachin was going through mental health issues. The complaint further said that Sachin had a meeting with the guide on 31st morning, after which he went to his room and put a status on WhatsApp which says “I am sorry, not good enough”. Later in the afternoon he was found dead,” the ChintaBar said in a statement.

Quoting Sachin’s brother’s statement, the students group demanded “unbiased” investigation of the incident.