# IIT Bombay student dies by suicide after ChatGPT exam row

2026-09-19T12:32:32+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 5 independent outlets

A 22-year-old IIT Bombay student, Sahil Ravindra Wakode, died by suicide in his hostel room on Friday evening after he was caught using ChatGPT during an exam. The institute said no disciplinary action was taken and he was counselled. The Powai police have registered an FIR and an investigation is underway. The student's mother alleged he was tortured and killed, demanding justice. Students protested on campus demanding accountability. This is the fourth suicide at IIT Bombay in five years. No suicide note was found. The police have named all relevant persons in the case. The institute's statement did not link the death to the exam incident. The probe is ongoing.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Coverage is largely uniform, with most outlets reporting the institute's denial of disciplinary action and the mother's allegations. The Hindustan Times and Deccan Herald note the broader pattern of student suicides at IIT Bombay, while News18 frames the incident around the ChatGPT angle. The key divergence is whether the death is linked to the exam: the institute denies it, but the mother's accusation and campus protests suggest otherwise. Watch for the police investigation and any findings from the post-mortem.

## Coverage

- news18.com (sensationalist) <https://www.news18.com/amp/india/iit-bombay-suicide-case-student-caught-using-chatgpt-in-exam-found-dead-powai-campus-protest-10341224.html>
  Leads with 'Caught Using ChatGPT' and lists dramatic elements
- livemint.com (neutral report) <https://www.livemint.com/news/india/iit-bombay-denies-action-against-student-after-fir-filed-alleging-abetment-of-suicide-over-chatgpt-linked-exam-row-11789819975272.html>
  Focuses on FIR and institute's denial of disciplinary action
- news.abplive.com (neutral report) <https://news.abplive.com/news/iit-bombay-suicide-case-mumbai-police-register-fir-against-all-person-linked-to-the-matter-probe-underway-1867435>
  Reports facts sequentially with institute's statement and police FIR
- deccanherald.com (neutral report) <https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/protests-rock-iit-bombay-after-student-dies-by-suicide-over-allegation-of-using-chatgpt-in-exam-4152011>
  Short factual report, mentions fourth suicide in five years
- hindustantimes.com (government critical) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/iit-bombay-student-s-suicide-after-chatgpt-use-in-exam-son-tortured-killed-alleges-mother-101789816061448.html>
  Highlights mother's allegation of torture and third suicide in seven months

Tags: ChatGPT, IIT Bombay, Mumbai Police
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Cite: https://indianopinion.org/iit-bombay-student-suicide-police-fir-campus-protests-erupt/#story-in-brief