'No Action Initiated': IIT Bombay Refutes Claims on Student's Death After ChatGPT Row

IIT Bombay has said that no disciplinary action was initiated against a second-year BTech student who died by suicide hours after he was found using a mobile phone during an examination. The institute said the student had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers and was counselled by faculty. The statement came amid protests by students who alleged he had been threatened with suspension. Mumbai Police have since registered an abetment of suicide case based on a complaint from the student's father.

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IIT Bombay Denies Disciplinary Action Against Student

Mumbai: IIT Bombay has rejected claims that a second-year student faced disciplinary action or a suspension threat before his death, saying that “no disciplinary action was initiated” following an examination incident involving the use of ChatGPT.

The student, Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a second-year BTech student in the Energy Science and Engineering department, died by suicide in his hostel room on Friday evening, September 18, according to police and media reports.

The incident sparked protests on the Powai campus, with students seeking an inquiry into what happened after the examination.

What IIT Bombay Said Happened

According to IIT Bombay's statement, Wakode was found using a mobile phone during an examination earlier on Friday. The institute said he had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.

The institute said the matter was discussed with the student by the instructor and Head of Department. They counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

IIT Bombay said the student subsequently returned to his hostel room and was found dead later that evening. The institute expressed condolences to his family, friends, classmates and faculty members and said authorities were examining the circumstances surrounding his death.

Students Allege Threat of Suspension

Students protesting on campus have presented a different account of the events surrounding the examination.

According to reports, some students alleged that Wakode had been threatened with disciplinary action, including suspension, after he was caught using a phone during the exam. The claims prompted students to demand greater transparency and an investigation into the institute's handling of the incident.

These allegations have not been established as findings of an investigation. IIT Bombay has specifically denied that disciplinary action was initiated against the student.

Police Register Abetment of Suicide Case

The matter took a new turn on Saturday when Mumbai Police registered an FIR relating to abetment of suicide based on a complaint filed by the student's father.

Police said the complaint named several individuals and that the investigation would examine the allegations against those named. Hindustan Times reported that the FIR invoked Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The registration of an FIR is the beginning of a criminal investigation and does not establish guilt against IIT Bombay or any individual named in the complaint.

Family Seeks Justice

Wakode's parents reached the IIT Bombay campus following his death and sought an explanation for the circumstances surrounding it.

His mother alleged that her son had been subjected to torture and demanded justice. The family has disputed the account that no disciplinary pressure was placed on him. These are allegations made by the family and remain subject to investigation.

Police said no suicide note was recovered from the room and that the body was sent for post-mortem examination.

Campus Protests Continue

The student's death triggered demonstrations at IIT Bombay, with students raising questions about academic pressure, student welfare and the institute's response to the examination incident.

The ongoing mid-semester examinations were also postponed amid the protests, according to reports. Students have sought an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death and greater accountability from the administration.

IIT Bombay, meanwhile, has said it will cooperate with authorities and urged people to avoid speculation while the investigation is underway.

Investigation Will Establish What Happened

At present, there are competing accounts about the events between the examination incident and the student's death.

IIT Bombay's position is that no disciplinary action was initiated and that the student was counselled and assured that the incident would not affect his academic career. Students and the family have raised allegations of disciplinary pressure, while police have now begun a criminal investigation following the father's complaint.

The investigation and post-mortem process are expected to provide further information about the circumstances surrounding the death.