IIT Bombay Student Suicide: Caste Bias Allegations Rock Campus
IIT Bombay Student Suicide: Caste Bias Allegations Rock Campus
Tragedy strikes IIT Bombay as a student's suicide sparks grave allegations of caste discrimination and institutional harassment. Police register an FIR, student protests ignite, and the institute faces intense scrutiny.
A pall of grief and outrage has fallen over IIT Bombay's Powai campus following the tragic death of Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. Wakode was found deceased in his hostel room on Friday evening, hours after he was reportedly found using a mobile phone and ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.
His family has come forward with serious allegations, claiming Wakode, a native of Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, endured institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination, which they believe led him to take this extreme step. These accusations have sparked significant protests on campus, with students echoing concerns about the immense pressure and threats of academic suspension Wakode allegedly faced.
In response to the family's complaint, police have registered an FIR for abetment of suicide under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act. A professor has been named as an accused in the case, which is now being investigated by the Crime Branch, indicating the gravity of the allegations.
IIT Bombay, in an initial statement, acknowledged that Wakode had allegedly uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.
However, the institute maintained that no disciplinary action was initiated against him.
They further stated that the incident was discussed with Wakode by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that it would not adversely affect his academic career.
He then returned to his hostel room, where he was later found dead.
Amidst conflicting reports, IIT Bombay has since issued a fresh statement, retracting earlier claims and clarifying that Director Shireesh Kedare has not resigned, despite earlier indications. The institute also expressed an apology for previous communications and affirmed that discussions with students would continue, with due process to be followed.
The Board of Governors is scheduled to meet to address the escalating crisis, as calls for accountability and systemic change grow louder.
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