Mumbai, September 19 (TNA) A second-year student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay died by suicide in his hostel room on Friday, hours after he was found using a mobile phone during an examination, according to the institute and police.
The student belonged to the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. Police said he returned to his hostel room after the examination and was later found hanging. No suicide note has been reported so far, and the Powai police have begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
According to an official statement issued by IIT Bombay, the student had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers. The institute said that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him after the incident.
The institute said the matter had been discussed with the student by the course instructor and the Head of the Department. They reportedly counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.
Students protest
The student’s death triggered protests on the Powai campus, with students demanding accountability from the institute administration and greater clarity on the events leading up to the incident. More than 400 students reportedly participated in the protest, following which the ongoing mid-semester examinations were postponed.
Police deployed additional personnel on the campus to maintain law and order and facilitate discussions between students and the administration. Authorities are questioning people who interacted with the student and examining the sequence of events inside and outside the examination hall.
IIT Bombay expresses grief
In its statement, IIT Bombay said it was deeply saddened by the student’s death and was extending support to his friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the tragedy. The institute said the concerned authorities were investigating the cause of death and the events surrounding it.
The reported death is the third student suicide case on the IIT Bombay Powai campus in six months, according to reports. The incident has renewed concerns about academic pressure, student mental health and the need for effective counselling and grievance-redressal systems in educational institutions.
The institute has not confirmed whether the student had faced any formal academic penalty. Its statement specifically said that no disciplinary action had been initiated before his death.