IIT Bombay Student Death: FIR Filed for Abetment, Caste Harassment Allegations Mount

Mumbai Police have officially registered an FIR against a senior professor and other unnamed officials at IIT Bombay, following the alleged suicide of 22-year-old second-year student Sahil Ravindra Wakode. The action comes after Wakode was reportedly caught using a mobile phone to get answers from ChatGPT during an examination, leading to his death hours later on Friday evening. Wakode's parents have filed a complaint alleging abetment to suicide and severe caste-based harassment against their son, sparking widespread outrage and protests across the campus. This tragic event is amplified by the fact that it marks the third student suicide at the prestigious IIT Bombay campus in the last seven months, raising serious questions about academic pressure, student mental health, and institutional support systems. While IIT Bombay stated no disciplinary action was initiated against Wakode and that he was counselled and assured his academic career wouldn't be affected, his mother alleges her son was 'tortured' and 'killed,' demanding justice. The FIR explicitly names faculty member Suryanarayan Dulla and other senior officials, with allegations of caste abuse also being investigated under special legal provisions. With the investigation now transferred to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, the spotlight remains firmly on IIT Bombay to address the allegations of harassment and the broader issue of student wellbeing. Students continue to protest, demanding accountability, transparency, and immediate measures to improve mental health support and address potential discrimination on campus. The outcome of this high-profile case under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) will likely set significant precedents for accountability in educational institutions across India.