IIT Bombay student death: Director has not resigned, institute apologises over earlier statement

The Indian Institute of Technology IIT Bombay on Monday said its director has not resigned and apologised for an earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding IIT Bombay student deathDirector IIT Bombay has NOT resignedWe categorically state that the related news is false httpstcoPrxomzm7Uxmdash IIT Bombay iitbombay September 21 2026The institute was apparently referring to its disclosure of the students alleged use of AI during an examination before an investigation into his death had begunStudent found dead on IIT Bombay campusThe 22yearold a secondyear BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering was found dead on the IIT Bombay campus in Powai on September 18His family alleged that the victim a native of Maharashtras Yavatmal district was subjected to institutional harassment and castebased discrimination before he died by suicide triggering a protest by students on the campusThe protesters claimed that the victim faced severe academic pressure and threats of suspension PTI reportedIIT Bombay director says he will resignIIT Bombay Director Prof Shireesh Kedare told protesters late Sunday night that he would resign on Monday but noted that he would have to follow the required processThe institute in a post on X on Monday said its director had not resignedWe categorically state that the related news is false it statedInstitute apologises for earlier communicationWe apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of the student IIT Bombay saidWe apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of SahilThe details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities In view ofhellipmdash IIT Bombay iitbombay September 21 2026The details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities it statedIn view of the ongoing investigation it was inappropriate to have set out or characterised details relating to the events preceding his demise before they had been duly established through the appropriate investigative process it addedIIT Bombay had earlier disclosed alleged AI useEarlier in a statement on Saturday the institute said the student had allegedly uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers during the exam However no disciplinary action was initiated against him it saidUnfortunate Death of A Student at IIT Bombay pictwittercom2jq0ncl5RLmdash IIT Bombay iitbombay September 19 2026The matter was also discussed with the student by the instructor and the Head of the Department who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career the statement saidThe student subsequently returned to his hostel room Later that evening he was found dead in his room it addedFIR registered after parents complaintFollowing a complaint by the students parents the police on Saturday registered an FIR under charges of abetment of suicide under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities ActA professor has been named as an accused in the case which is being investigated by the Crime Branch according to policeWith PTI inputs