IIT Bombay is forming a panel to investigate the student’s death

After the death of student Sahil Wakode in Mumbai on 22 September 2026, security has been beefed up outside the IIT Mumbai campus. Photo credit: PTI

IIT Bombay on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) set up a 10-member committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the death of Sahil Ravindra Wakode, 20, a student of the institute, on September 18, 2026. The institute’s board constituted the panel. The jury may hear from Professor Suryanarayan Doolla, who has been named in the case, the official said.

Prof. Doolla was sent on leave. This was to facilitate an impartial probe, sources said.

The Mumbai police have handed over the investigation into Wakode’s death to the crime branch. An officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police will lead the investigation. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection-I) will supervise the investigation. A case has been registered at the Powai police station.

On Monday (September 21, 2026), Mr. Doolla was removed as Dean of Administrative Affairs following protests over Wakode’s death

Wakode was a second year B.Tech. student at the Department of Energy and Engineering. Police found his body in his hostel room on the evening of 18 September 2026, hours after institute authorities caught him using his phone to access ChatGPT during a semester-related exam.

The Powai police registered a first information report on September 19, 2026. The FIR, which named Mr. Doolla, was based on a complaint by Ravindra Wakode, the deceased student’s father. Charges include abetment of suicide and sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, after which the investigation was handed over to the crime branch.

The crime branch has begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, including the movements of Sahil Wakode and the events leading up to his death. Investigators were looking into the case from various angles, police said, adding that the investigation was conducted carefully and impartially and would continue according to law.

The Mumbai Police has asked the public to refrain from speculating, spreading misinformation and jumping to conclusions before the facts are known. It also asked the media to rely only on information released by official channels.

Classes at IIT Bombay have resumed.

Help to overcome suicidal thoughts is available on Tele-MANAS 14416 and Sneha Suicide Prevention Helpline 044-24640050.

(With contributions by Yohan Varghese from Mumbai.)

Published – 23 Sep 2026 22:22 IST