IIT Bombay suicide case: 'Sahil Wakode apologised for cheating in exam, sought second chance'

Sahil Wakode, an IIT Bombay student who died by suicide hours after allegedly being caught cheating in an examination, had submitted a written apology to the institute seeking a second chance, police said.

According to an official quoted by PTI, Wakode stated that he had not prepared well for the paper, acknowledged his mistake, and sought a second chance.

Wakode, a second-year BTech student, was allegedly found with a mobile phone inside an exam hall during mid-semester examinations on September 18. An IIT Bombay statement said he was using an AI platform to seek answers to questions.

Hours later, he was found hanging inside his hostel room. His death came to light after hostel mates received no response from his room and alerted institute authorities, who subsequently informed the police.

The Mumbai Crime Branch, which is investigating the case, has recorded statements from more than 40 people, including IIT-B Director Shireesh Kedare and Professor Suryanarayana Doolla.

Doolla, who was invigilating the examination, faces allegations of harassment and caste-based discrimination from the deceased student's parents. Wakode’s father alleged that Doolla hurled caste-based abuses at his son at the alleged behest of Kedare.

Based on a complaint by Wakode’s parents, an FIR has been registered against Doolla at the Powai police station. The professor, however, has denied the allegations of harassment in his statement to the police.

Wakode’s death triggered protests on the IIT Bombay campus. The protesters stressed that their demonstrations were not intended to justify academic misconduct, but were instead calling for institutional reforms and a broader examination of the academic and administrative environment at the institute.