A 22-year-old student of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay ended his life in his hostel room after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during an examination, according to a statement by the institution.

Sahil Ravindra Wakode was a second-year B.Tech. Energy Science and Engineering student, and hailed from Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, police said.

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According to a statement from IIT Bombay, Mr. Wakode had allegedly uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers during the exam. The incident happened on the fifth day of the third semester examination, which was being held between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Going by the statement of a student who was also present in the same building as the examination hall, Mr. Wakode was allegedly caught using his mobile phone. The institute’s examination rules bar usage of cell phones, smartwatches or any such electronic gadgets in the examination hall. An Energy Science professor who caught Mr. Wakode in the hall allegedly threatened debarment for a year and asked Mr. Wakode to attend a meeting the next day regarding the incident, the student said. The student was later found dead in his room at Hostel 4 within the campus.

No note was recovered from the spot, police said. The Powai police have registered an accidental death report (ADR) and sent the body for post-mortem examination.

Further investigation is underway to ascertain the motive behind the death, the official said.

Meanwhile, students of the institute took out a march in protest of the incident. As the incident has drawn attention to IIT Bombay , which is among the top technology institutes in India, the student alleged a high stress environment within the college. “This is the second death in the three months since I joined hostel 4, and the third in the last 5-6 months,” the student said in telephone conversation. 

The student who is also part of the protesting students, said that the resignation of the IIT Bombay Director was one of their demands. 

Later in the day, Director of the Institute Shireesh Kedare met the protesting students. 

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)