IIT Bombay Apologizes, Suspends Dean Amid Student Death Probe

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has apologized for its premature characterization of events surrounding the death of student Sahil Wakode and suspended a dean named in a police case, as the Mumbai Crime Branch takes over the investigation. The developments on Monday, September 21, marked a significant escalation in the case, which has sparked three days of student protests. IIT Bombay issued a public apology for its earlier statement about the circumstances of Wakode's death, acknowledging it was inappropriate to detail events before an investigation established them. The institute had previously stated that Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year BTech student, was found using a mobile phone during a midsemester examination and had uploaded the question to an AI platform for answers. Students objected to this public disclosure, arguing the deceased student could no longer respond to the allegations. Simultaneously, the institute confirmed the immediate suspension of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla from his position as Dean of Administrative Affairs.