Sahil Wakode, a sophomore of IIT Bombay, has committed suicide in his hostel room later in the evening of Friday.
From the information shared by the Powai police officer, it is known that the examiner had caught him using his mobile phone while taking an exam on Friday morning.
The institute claims that Wakode had uploaded the question paper of the examination on ChatGPT to get answers for the questions.
It is further claimed that no action had been taken against him. It has been resolved with him by the professor and head of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering.
They have counseled him and assured him that there will be no repercussions for him in his academic career.
The students have put forth an account that is in stark contrast with the statement issued by the institute.
It says that Wakode had been spotted looking at the answer sheet of another student and had been asked to leave the room.
He was reportedly told by the officials that he might be subject to disciplinary action, which could also include suspension from the college.
IIT Bombay countered this account in its statement released late Friday night.
The event was followed by a demonstration at the gate of the institute, where the students raised slogans and posed questions to the authorities.
Police were summoned as the protest went on well into the night on Friday. The protest was later moved to Convocation Hall.
It is reported that the Director, Prof. Shireesh Kedare, came to meet the students after about four hours of the protest.
The protesters raised various demands, including resignation of the examination in-charge, director, and faculties of the department of Energy Science and Engineering.
They further demanded student representation in the examinations and academic committees and review of the discipline code of the institution.
Mid-semester exams were postponed due to the death.
The news of the death was announced by the Mumbai police in addition to the ensuing protest.
"A student committed suicide today at IIT Powai. In the wake of this incident, some students of IIT formed a protest group and protested for fulfilling their demands.
Administration of IIT has initiated talks with them in order to reach a mutually satisfactory decision," DCP Dattatray Nalawade added.
"Further investigation on the matter is underway."
It has been reported to be the third death of a student at the IIT Bombay campus in the year.
"The passing away of the student has been a tragic loss for the community, and we have been grieving about the same," said an IIT Bombay statement.
"The circumstances of the passing away of the student are being examined by the concerned authorities."
Student deaths related to academic stress have been reported frequently at India’s top institutions over the years.
As many as 122 students from IITs, IIMs, and Central Universities took their lives by committing suicide from 2014 to 2021, as per data provided by the former Education Minister in the Lok Sabha.
There were instances of protests due to the death of students at IIT Madras and IIT Guwahati in the past, where demands for administrative responsibility and mental well-being were made.
