IIT Bombay has clarified that Director Shireesh Kedare has not resigned after protests over the death of 22-year-old student Sahil Ravindra Wakode, even as the institute says it accepted an 18-point list of demands from demonstrating students. The clarification followed the circulation of a video and social media claims suggesting that Kedare had announced his resignation.
Wakode, a second-year BTech student in Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in Hostel 4 on the evening of September 18, according to the report. His death has led to sustained protests on campus, with students seeking an independent inquiry, stronger mental-health support and accountability over the circumstances preceding his death.
The reported dispute began during a mid-semester examination on September 18. An official statement from IIT Bombay said Wakode was found using ChatGPT on a smartphone to cheat. The institute said no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against him and that, after he was removed from the examination hall, the course instructor and head of department counselled him and assured him that the incident would not affect his career.
Wakode’s parents have rejected the institute’s account. His father, Ravindra Wakode, has alleged that faculty members subjected his son to caste-based abuse and harassment over three months. His mother, Sonali Wakode, has alleged that he was subjected to severe mental torture. These allegations remain subject to investigation.
Mumbai Police have registered a case of abetment to suicide based on the father’s complaint. The FIR names invigilator Professor Suryanarayan Dulla, IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh Kedare and other faculty members, according to the report. Mumbai Crime Branch and the police are examining CCTV footage and student statements as part of the investigation.
The resignation confusion arose after a late-night meeting at the institute’s main gate that reportedly lasted about three hours. During the meeting, Kedare signed the students’ 18-point demand document in an effort to enable academic activities to resume. The report also attributes to him a statement that he was willing to resign if students believed he had acted wrongly over the examination incident. IIT Bombay, however, has clarified that he has not submitted a resignation.
The students’ demands reportedly cover an independent investigation, suspension of the faculty member concerned, student welfare and stronger mental-health assistance on campus. Shiv Sena UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi has called the student’s death deeply distressing and said that removing professors would not address the wider concerns around campus climate and mental health. The police investigation and the institute’s response to the students’ demands will determine the next steps.
