A 22-year-old student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay died by suicide in his hostel room after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during an examination, police said on Saturday.
The student, identified as Sahil Ravindra Wakode, was a native of Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district and was pursuing a second-year BTech programme in the Energy Science and Engineering department.
Student Allegedly Used ChatGPT During Exam
According to a statement issued by IIT Bombay, Wakode had allegedly uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT during the exam in an attempt to obtain answers.
Police said he was found hanging from the ceiling fan inside his room at Hostel Number 4 on the Powai campus on Friday.
Hostel Mates Alerted Authorities
According to an official, the incident came to light after Wakode’s hostel mates noticed that there was no response from his room. They subsequently alerted the authorities, who informed the police.
No suicide note was found at the spot, the official said.
Police Register Accidental Death Report
The Powai police have registered an accidental death report (ADR) in connection with the incident. Wakode’s body was sent for a post-mortem examination.
The police are continuing their investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the death and ascertain the motive behind the extreme step.
Third Reported Suicide At IIT Bombay In Seven Months
Wakode’s death is the third reported case of suicide at the IIT Bombay campus in Powai within seven months.
In February, a second-year student died by suicide in a hostel on the campus. Later, in July 2026, a 20-year-old second-year BTech student also died by suicide at the beginning of the new semester.
[With PTI inputs]
