IIT Bombay removes dean following student suicide

The death of Sahil Ravindra Vakode, a 20-year-old second-year B.Tech student at IIT Bombay, has sparked significant unrest and protests on campus. Vakode was found dead in his hostel room on September 18, 2026, following an incident during mid-term examinations.

According to an official statement from IIT Bombay, the student was found using a mobile phone and ChatGPT to upload a question paper during an exam. While the institute stated that no disciplinary action was taken and that faculty members had assured him the incident would not affect his academic journey, the student was found deceased later that evening.

In the wake of the incident, the institute administration has removed Professor Suryanarayana Tullu from his position as Dean of Student Affairs. Professor Tullu's name was included in the initial police First Information Report (FIR) as he had served as an invigilator during the exam.

The incident has reignited a broader conversation regarding student mental health and suicide rates within the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Records indicate a pattern of such tragedies at various IIT campuses over the years, including notable cases in Hyderabad and Kharagpur. Additionally, the deceased student's parents have raised allegations of caste-based discrimination, though some peers have contested this claim.