IIT Bombay has decided to replace ceiling fans across its campus and hostels with wall-mounted fans following Sahil Wakode’s death on September 18.
Sources said discussions about replacing ceiling fans had already started after another student’s death in July. Images of wall-mounted fans being brought to the campus have since circulated on social media.
The decision comes as students continue their protest, demanding greater accountability, transparency, stronger student welfare systems and better mental health support.
Student found dead in hostel
Sahil Ravindra Wakode, 22, was a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. He was from Yavatmal, Maharashtra.
According to police, Sahil was appearing for a mid-semester examination on September 18. Police said he was seen looking towards his pocket during the exam between around 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm.
A professor questioned him and took him aside. Sahil reportedly returned to his hostel at around 1:25 pm and did not leave the room afterwards. His body was later found hanging inside the hostel room.
Family alleges caste discrimination
Sahil’s family has alleged that he faced caste-based harassment and discrimination at the institute. They have demanded a detailed investigation and a CBI probe.
The family has also filed a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, naming Professor Suryanarayan Doolla.
The allegations are being investigated and have not been established as facts.
IIT Bombay retracts initial statement
The controversy intensified after IIT Bombay initially said on September 19 that Sahil had uploaded an examination paper to ChatGPT and died by suicide after being caught using unfair means.
The institute withdrew the statement on September 21, apologising for commenting on the circumstances before the investigation was completed.
Students demand accountability
Students have been protesting for five days and have submitted a list of demands to the IIT Bombay director. These include stronger accountability mechanisms, greater transparency, improved mental health support and changes to student welfare systems.
The director accepted the demands and agreed to work towards their implementation within a specified timeline. An open house was subsequently held with students.
Student representatives have stressed that their protest is not intended to justify academic misconduct. They have also said they are not declaring Professor Doolla guilty before the investigation is completed.
However, they have demanded that he be kept away from administrative responsibilities during the probe to ensure that the investigation remains impartial.
Faculty forum defends professor
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum organised a march in support of Professor Doolla.
Faculty Forum president Professor Rajkumar S. Pant said Doolla had acted according to the examination process approved by the institute’s Senate. He said Doolla had been removed as Dean, Administrative Affairs, but continued to work as a teaching faculty member.
Pant also said he was not aware of any complaint filed by Sahil with the institute’s SC/ST Cell in the preceding months. He said he had no first-hand information to either confirm or reject the allegations of caste-based remarks.
IIT Delhi, IIT Madras faculty bodies extend support
The IIT Delhi Faculty Forum also expressed support for Doolla, saying he had performed his examination-related responsibilities according to institutional guidelines. It called for institutional, legal and financial support for faculty members.
The IIT Madras Faculty Association, meanwhile, called for a fair, transparent and time-bound investigation. It also sought counselling and support for faculty members enforcing academic rules and a review of safety measures for faculty facing stressful situations.
