IIT Bombay Student Suicide Sparks Protests and Allegations of Discrimination

In mid-September 2026, a second-year student at IIT Bombay was found using a mobile phone in an exam hall. Reports said the student was caught accessing ChatGPT during the test, which is forbidden by the institute's rules.

Hours after being confronted about the phone, the 19-year-old student was found dead in his hostel room. The death was ruled a suicide, and the incident quickly became public, shocking the campus community and drawing national attention.

On September 18, news of the student's death spread, and over 400 students began protesting on campus. The protests grew after the student's parents alleged that their son had faced harassment and caste discrimination by a faculty member following the exam incident.

A police case was filed for abetment of suicide and caste abuse against a professor named by the parents. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was invoked, and authorities launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the death.

IIT Bombay initially stated that no disciplinary action had been taken against the student and that he had been counselled and reassured about his academic standing. However, as protests continued, students demanded stronger mental health support, clear complaint mechanisms, and accountability for faculty accused of harassment.

By September 20, the institute's director met with protesting students and agreed to review their 18-point charter of demands. The Board of Governors scheduled a meeting, and all lectures were cancelled for the day. The Faculty Forum expressed condolences but also supported the professor named in the FIR.

After three days of protest, IIT Bombay apologised for its earlier statements and suspended Professor Suryanarayana Doolla as dean. The administration accepted the student demands in principle, promising further details soon.

The police investigation into the student's death and the allegations of harassment and caste discrimination is ongoing. The professor named in the FIR has been suspended from his dean role, though he retains faculty support pending the outcome of the probe.

IIT Bombay has accepted the students' charter and pledged to improve mental health resources, complaint mechanisms, and transparency. The administration is expected to announce specific steps and reforms in the coming days.

Key developments to watch include the results of the police investigation, potential legal proceedings against the professor, and the concrete actions IIT Bombay will take to address student concerns. The institute's promised reforms and their implementation will be closely monitored by students and the public.