While one group seeks accountability, another is rallying around IIT-B prof

While one group seeks accountability, another is rallying around IIT-B prof 

22.09.2026

Yogita Singh & Hemali Chhapiatnn 

Mumbai: Opinion within IIT-Bombay is sharply divided on the death of by suicide of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode on Sept 18, mirroring the debate outside its gates and on social media. “Among many of us in engineering, the feeling is that the institute authorities have largely done what they were required to do,” said a second-year student from hostel 4. “We also feel the director has handled the situation well. He heard students out and helped calm the anxiety on campus.” 

The student said the mood was different among sections of the humanities students, where demands for the director’s resignation have been far more vocal. Others cautioned against reading the protests as representative of the entire campus. “IIT-B has close to 14,000 students. Those protesting are a relatively small number compared to the total student population,” said a student. 

Those divisions are also playing out online. One section has sought accountability over allegations of caste discrimination and questioned whether institutional processes adequately protect students at moments of extreme distress. Another has rallied around professor Suryanarayana Doolla who was the invigilator at the exam where Wakode was allegedly found with a phone, arguing that faculty cannot be publicly pronounced guilty for enforcing exam rules before an inquiry establishes the facts.

Faculty voices have attempted to separate the two issues. Academic misconduct, they argued, must be dealt with firmly, but disciplinary systems must simultaneously have safeguards, counselling and sensitivity built into them. The inquiry will now have to establish what transpired before Wakode’s death, whether institutional procedures were followed, and where accountability, if any, lies — in a campus where grief and anger have produced sharply competing versions of the same events. During the initial stage of the investigation, the crime branch will collect all documents and case-related paperwork from Powai police, where the FIR was initially registered. The team will examine the case records and subsequently record statements of various people.

Wakode’s family in Yavatmal sought a CID investigation into the death, alleging foul play. IIT-B said it will constitute an independent inquiry committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the death. “We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the demise of Sahil... The details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities,” it said. Students have alleged that due procedure was not followed after Wakode was found with a phone, with some also alleging that he was threatened with suspension. In its first statement, issued on Friday, IIT-B had maintained that “no disciplinary action was initiated against the student”. 

Institute sources said Monday’s decisions were taken at a meeting of the board of governors. An open house, which had first been scheduled and then cancelled, was held in the evening, where students again raised their demands. Wakode’s family has filed an FIR against Doolla and “other institute officials”, accusing them of abetment and harassment over the past three months. Protesting students had demanded an apology for what they described as the “defaming” of Wakode, besides an independent inquiry committee with student representatives and external members recommended by them. No decision has yet been taken on the composition of the committee. With Doolla’s suspension among their foremost demands, a section of students said the protests will continue. The Wakode family’s lawyer, Nikhil Kamble, said they were seeking police permission to stage a hunger strike on campus.

Andhra student falls to death at Rajkot univ hostel

Andhra student falls to death at Rajkot univ hostel 

20.09.2026

Rajkot: A second-year engineering student from Andhra Pradesh died after falling from the 10th floor of her hostel at Marwadi University in Gujarat’s Rajkot on Saturday morning. Police suspect it to be a suicide. 

The deceased, Sobarnika Venkatesh Alla, was pursuing a BTech degree in computer science and engineering with a specialisation in AI. According to police, the student fell around 10:30 am. Students, wardens and campus staff rushed to the spot after hearing the impact. 

Emergency medical services were called, but paramedics declared her dead at the scene. No suicide note was found in her room. Police have begun an investigation and are examining her phone records. 

DCP Hetal Patel said, “Her roommate told us that she had been shouting at somebody on the phone and suddenly jumped. We will know more after unlocking her phone and examining the call detail records.” The university’s deputy registrar, Varghese Nidheesh, said emergency assistance was sought immediately after the incident. The deceased’s cousin, who was in the city, was informed, and her family in Andhra Pradesh has also been notified. Investigators are recording statements from hostel residents and classmates as part of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her death. tnn

Busted by DVAC, office assistant jumps to death

Busted by DVAC, office assistant jumps to death 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK   16.05.2026

Trichy : An assistant at the block development office in Tiruvarur jumped to death from the third floor of his office building on Thursday evening while being interrogated by Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) officials after his arrest, along with the BDO, for accepting a bribe. 

The deceased was identified as R Suresh Kumar, 51, a resident of Thuvakudi in Trichy district. According to sources, Bharathidasan, a resident of Tiruvarur district, went to the office a few days ago seeking a plot approval receipt. The BDO for village panchayat scheme, S Swaminathan, along with his assistant Suresh Kumar, allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹7,000 to issue the receipt. Bharathidasan lodged a complaint with DVAC in Tiruvarur. After conducting a preliminary inquiry, DVAC confirmed the bribe demand and planned a trap. The sleuths gave Bharathidasan ₹7,000 in currency notes laced with a chemical powder to be handed over to the two officials. On Thursday afternoon, as Swaminathan and Suresh Kumar took the money from Bharathidasan, the DVAC team caught them red-handed. During the inquiry, Suresh Kumar excused himself for a break, went to the terrace and jumped off the building. (Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on TN’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 04424640050)

Med student loses interest in psychiatry, hangs herself

Med student loses interest in psychiatry, hangs herself 

DHARWAD HOSTEL 

Basavaraj.Kattimani@timesofindia.com 29.01.2026

In a tragic incident, a medical student ended her life by hanging herself at Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Dimhans) hostel Wednesday. According to police sources, the deceased is Pragnya Palegar, 25, of Shivamogga. She was staying at the hostel with a roommate. The suicide came to light when the roommate returned to the hostel Wednesday morning. Dimhans director Dr Arunkumar C told TOI

Pragnya was pursuing PG in MD Psychiatry. Having got admission on Jan 1, she had been staying at the hostel for the past few days. As she lost interest in psychiatry subject after taking admission, her parents came to the city to counsel and persuade her to continue the studies. “But we do not know what exactly transpired between them. We are shocked to know about her suicide. Her roommate alerted college staff and police after seeing her body,” Arunkumar added. 

Pragnya’s mother Dr Rekha, who is an anatomy professor, said the former took admission on her own interest. “After getting admission, she told us she was not interested in pursuing the course. As it is common for students to face such situations during the initial days of their PG, we thought she too was going through the same. We came to Dharwad and counselled her. We went back to Shivamogga yesterday. But she ended her life by hanging the next morning,” she said, adding the family is distraught at losing the lone daughter. 

PR Gangenahalli, inspector at Dharwad sub-urban police station quoted the victim’s parents, saying she lost interest in the course and took the extreme step, counselling by parents notwithstanding. “We filed a case and completed the formalities, including autopsy,” he added. If you are in need of support, call suicide-prevention helplines — Arogya Vani: 104, Sahai: 080- 25497777.

MBBS student from Jaipur ends life at Kota medical college

MBBS student from Jaipur ends life at Kota medical college

TNN

Mar 7, 2025, 10:09 IST

JAIPUR: A 26-year-old MBBS student of Kota Medical College died by suicide in his hostel room Wednesday night, leaving a brief note apologising to his parents for not being able to fulfil their dreams. The student, Sunil Bairwa, was a resident of Bassi in Jaipur.

Police said Sunil was suspended from college for a year during third year after being allegedly caught cheating, which led to the cancellation of two papers he wrote. Officials suspect the suspension and subsequent struggles with the college administration pushed him into depression, ultimately leading to his death.

His body was discovered in his room at the undergraduate hostel, according to Mahaveer Nagar police station SHO Ramesh Kavia. The hostel warden first informed the college principal, who then contacted the police. Officers found the two-line suicide note in his room.

Alleging harassment by the college, Sunil's father, Kajodmal, said Sunil secured admission to Kota Medical College in the 2019-20 after learing NEET. Kajodmal said Sunil failed his first year exam, but a review of his answer sheets after the family filed a case with Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) declared him as having passed nearly eight months after the original results were published.

Sunil encountered fresh difficulties in the third year, when he was accused of cheating, resulting in two papers he wrote getting cancelled. Kajodmal alleged Sunil was unable to continue his studies in the last year and a half after successive difficulties. He also said whenever Sunil approached the administration to seek resolution, they harassed him instead of offering support.

Upset over thrashing by teacher, 14-year-old jumps to death from 4th floor of school building in Hyderabad

Upset over thrashing by teacher, 14-year-old jumps to death from 4th floor of school building in Hyderabad

23.02.2025

A 14-year-old student died by suicide after jumping from the fourth floor of his school in Hyderabad, following alleged corporal punishment by a teacher. The incident led to protests from the boy's family and student organizations. The police have registered a case against the teacher and the school management for abetment to suicide.

HYDERABAD: A 14-year-old student died by suicide after he jumped from the fourth floor of his school building in Uppal on Saturday morning. The boy took the extreme step after being allegedly struck by a school teacher.

Uppal police said that the 14-year-old jumped from the fourth floor of the Sagar Grammar School building during school hours. On hearing a thud, the school staff rushed out and found the boy in a pool of blood. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

The incident led to a protest, with family members and a few student organisations demanding action against the school teacher.

The boy's mother blamed the school's physical training (PT) teacher for her son taking the extreme step.

At around 9.30 am, the student was found playing with a CCTV camera on the school campus. On seeing this, the teacher got upset and allegedly smacked him besides reprimanding him. "Later, the boy, under the pretext of going to the washroom, went to the fourth floor of the building and jumped to death," Uppal inspector Election Reddy told TOI.

The alleged incident of corporal punishment took place in front of other students. "Perhaps, he felt humiliated since he was smacked in front of others," sub-inspector V Chiranjeevi said. Before taking the extreme step, the 14-year-old wrote a note in his notebook, expressing his apology to his parents. Police have recovered the material.

Based on the complaint given by the family members of the deceased, a criminal case was registered against the teacher and the management of the school on the charge of abetment to suicide.

'Teach her a lesson', Guj husband urges in video before ending life

 'Teach her a lesson', Guj husband urges in video before ending life 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  05.01.2025

Rajkot : A 39-year-old man from Gujarat's Botad district died by suicide at his residence last month. Moments before ending his life, he recorded a video accusing his wife of mental harassment and urging his family to 'teach her a lesson'. Suresh Sathadiya's wife Jaya, in her mid-30s, was booked under BNS Section 108 for abetting his suicide and detained on Saturday. The couple was married for 17 years and had four children — two daughters aged 15 and 10, and two sons aged six and four. Suresh was found hanging at his home in Botad's Zamrala village on Dec 30. On Friday, his father filed a police complaint against Jaya after discovering the video on his son's cell phone. In the video — not sent to anyone or shared on social media — a visibly distraught Suresh weepingly accused his wife of mental torture, saying: “Teach her a lesson that she will remember for her entire life. She was neither mine nor her children's; she cheated me and forced me to die.” As per the FIR, Jaya frequently argued with her husband and often left to stay at her parents' house. On the day Suresh died, he went to his in-laws' residence to persuade Jaya to return home. When she refused, he came back home and recorded the video before ending his life.