IIT-Bombay students seek institutional reforms, accountability following Sahil Wakode's death

Students at IIT Bombay have called for meaningful institutional reforms and greater accountability following the death of 22yearold student Sahil Wakode saying their recent protest was aimed at addressing systemic concerns at the institute and was not intended to justify academic misconductIn a statement issued by student representatives the students said they did not condone cheating or any other form of academic misconduct However Wakodes death had prompted them to examine the institutes systems processes and mechanisms for addressing student concernsIIT Bombay Student Representatives issue an official statement following the tragic death of secondyear BTech student Sahil WakodeThe statement states We do not stand for or condone cheating or any form of academic misconduct At the same time the loss of our fellowhellip pictwittercomxkqOmY6NYFmdash ANI ANI September 22 2026Students say protest was about systemic issuesThe 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 saidThe 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 timelinesThe 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 directlyThe administration responded to issues raised during the interaction according to the students They said they appreciated the Directors engagement with the student community and his approach towards identifying and addressing institutional concernsStudents clarify position on Dean DoollaThe students also clarified their position on the removal of Suryanarayana Doolla from his post as Dean of Administrative AffairsThey said their demand had never been based on an assumption of guilt or an attempt to prejudge the ongoing investigationWe 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 saidAt the same time the students said they had sought Doollas removal from his administrative responsibilities as a precautionary measure while the investigation was underwayTheir 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 influenceThe findings and appropriate action should follow from the established investigative process they saidStudents oppose external influence on campus concernsStudent representatives also said that the issues arising from Wakodes death should continue to be addressed by the student community and the instituteThe 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 saidThe 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 instituteWe stand united in seeking accountability transparency and meaningful institutional reform the statement saidThe 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 campusStudent died after alleged examination misconduct incidentWakode a secondyear BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering from Maharashtras Yavatmal district was found hanging in his hostel room on the Powai campus on Friday eveningHis death occurred hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a midsemester examinationSuryanarayana 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 suicideThe allegations in the FIR remain subject to investigationIIT Bombay issues public apologyThe development came amid tensions between students and the institute administration following communications issued after Wakodes deathIIT Bombay issued a public apology on Monday after students accused the institute of defaming Wakode without conducting a detailed inquiry in an earlier communication