22 September,2026 11:03 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
In a statement issued by student representatives, the students said they did not condone cheating or any other form of academic misconduct. File Photo
Students at IIT Bombay have called for "meaningful institutional reforms" and greater accountability following the death of 22-year-old student Sahil Wakode, saying their recent protest was aimed at addressing systemic concerns at the institute and was not intended to justify academic misconduct.
In a statement issued by student representatives, the students said they did not condone cheating or any other form of academic misconduct. However, Wakode's death had prompted them to examine the institute's systems, processes and mechanisms for addressing student concerns.
"The protest initiated by students was not intended to justify academic misconduct. It was a collective effort to raise concerns about systemic issues that have existed for some time and to seek meaningful and strong institutional reforms," the statement said.
The students said they had prepared a comprehensive list of demands over the past few days and formally submitted it to the IIT Bombay Director. According to the statement, the Director agreed to work towards implementing the demands within specified timelines.
The students also welcomed an open house conducted with the Director and other members of the institute administration. They said the meeting gave students an opportunity to raise their concerns and questions directly.
The administration responded to issues raised during the interaction, according to the students. They said they appreciated the Director's engagement with the student community and his approach towards identifying and addressing institutional concerns.
The students also clarified their position on the removal of Suryanarayana Doolla from his post as Dean of Administrative Affairs.
They said their demand had never been based on an assumption of guilt or an attempt to prejudge the ongoing investigation.
"We stand with Professor Doolla as a member of our faculty community and believe that the investigation must be allowed to proceed fairly and impartially," they said.
At the same time, the students said they had sought Doolla's removal from his administrative responsibilities as a precautionary measure while the investigation was underway.
Their stated position was that he should be relieved of his duties as Dean of Administrative Affairs during the probe to ensure that the investigation remained independent and was not vulnerable to influence.
"The findings and appropriate action should follow from the established investigative process," they said.
Student representatives also said that the issues arising from Wakode's death should continue to be addressed by the student community and the institute.
"The loss of Sahil should not become a platform for external political interests, organisations, or narratives to shape the concerns of the IIT Bombay student community," they said.
The students said their demands had emerged from experiences and concerns raised by students on campus. They maintained that any reform process should remain centred on the student community and the institute.
"We stand united in seeking accountability, transparency and meaningful institutional reform," the statement said.
The students said they would continue to raise concerns, represent the views of students and engage with the institute on measures aimed at creating a safer and more accountable campus.
Wakode, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering from Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, was found hanging in his hostel room on the Powai campus on Friday evening.
His death occurred hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.
Suryanarayana Doolla has been named in the FIR registered in connection with the death. The FIR alleges abetment to suicide on grounds of caste discrimination. Doolla has been booked under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and under a charge of abetment to suicide.
The allegations in the FIR remain subject to investigation.
The development came amid tensions between students and the institute administration following communications issued after Wakode's death.
IIT Bombay issued a public apology on Monday after students accused the institute of "defaming" Wakode without conducting a detailed inquiry in an earlier communication.
