IIT Bombay Student Death: ChatGPT Exam Row Explained

A second-year student of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay died by suicide on Friday evening, hours after he was found using a mobile phone during an examination. The institute says he had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT. Hundreds of students have since gathered on campus demanding transparency. The student was identified as Sahil Ravindra Wakode, 22, a second-year BTech student in the Energy Science and Engineering department, from Yavatmal district in Maharashtra. Business Today What the institute said In its statement, IIT Bombay said the student was found using a phone in the exam hall and had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT. It said no disciplinary action was initiated, and that the instructor and the Head of the Department counselled him and assured him the incident would not adversely affect his academic career. The institute said he then returned to his hostel. NewsGram The institute said it was deeply saddened, was supporting the student's friends, classmates and faculty, and that the circumstances were being examined by the appropriate authorities. The Sunday Guardian What students allege Protesting students alleged that the student had been warned of a one-year suspension after the incident. This claim has not been independently verified, and the institute says no disciplinary action had been initiated. The gap between the students' allegations and the institute's statement has become a central issue in the protest. One report says the family has disputed the account given so far, though details were not immediately available. LatestLY The Sunday Guardian Protest and the institute's response More than 400 students gathered in protest, continuing an overnight demonstration that moved to the main gate on Saturday morning. They are demanding a formal inquiry and greater transparency. The director met the students, and the ongoing mid-semester exams were postponed. Business Today NewsGram At a late-night interaction at the Convocation Hall, officials pointed to eight on-campus consultant psychologists and pledged to strengthen mental health efforts. Students felt the response fell short. Business Today Police investigation Powai police registered an accidental death report and sent the body for post-mortem. The investigation is ongoing. Police told The Indian Express that the student's exam ended at 4 pm on Friday. Business Today NewsGram A pattern students are questioning Reports describe this as the third reported student suicide at IIT Bombay in recent months, following deaths of second-year students in February and July 2026. Students say they want answers about what they describe as a pattern. Reports differ on whether the period is six or seven months. Business Today The wider debate on AI in exams The incident has also raised questions about how institutions handle suspected use of generative AI in exams. Many Indian institutions have yet to publish clear rules on AI use or on what happens to a student who is first flagged. Educators say the process, including how a student is told what comes next and what support is offered, matters as much as the rule. What is still unclear Whether a suspension was discussed with the student, and by whom The findings of the police investigation Whether IIT Bombay will announce an inquiry or change its exam and counselling procedures

IIT Bombay Student Death After ChatGPT Exam Incident: What the Institute Said and What Is Still Unverified

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