A second-year IIT Bombay student died by suicide on Friday evening after being found using a mobile phone during an examination, according to the institute. The student had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers during the test.

The student was from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. IIT Bombay said that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him following the incident.

The institute said the matter was discussed with the student by the examination instructor and the Head of the Department. They counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

The student subsequently returned to his hostel room. He was later found dead in his room.

IIT Bombay says circumstances being investigated

IIT Bombay expressed deep sadness over the student’s death and said it was extending support to his friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the incident.

The institute said the circumstances surrounding the death were being looked into by the appropriate authorities.

Police personnel were deployed on the campus after students gathered to protest following the student’s death. Deputy Commissioner of Police Dattatray Nalawade said an investigation was underway.

“Today, a student died by suicide at IIT Powai. Following this, some IIT students gathered and started a protest over their demands,” the DCP said.

He added that the IIT administration was holding discussions with the students to reach an amicable solution.

IIT Bombay students protest

Following news of the student’s death, a section of students gathered on the IIT Bombay campus and demanded accountability and transparency from the administration.

The protest came amid concerns raised by students over the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

According to the institute, the student had been counselled by faculty members after being found using a mobile phone during the examination and was assured that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

The incident is being examined by the appropriate authorities.

Third reported suicide at IIT Bombay

The death is the third reported case of suicide at the IIT Powai campus in recent months, according to the report.

A second-year student died by suicide in February. In July 2026, a 20-year-old second-year BTech student also died by suicide at the beginning of the new semester.

IIT Bombay has said it is extending support to students, faculty members and others affected by the latest incident.

Congress candidate Milan Pradhan has been arrested in West Bengal in connection with an old murder case, hours after Mamata Banerjee announced that her faction would support his candidature in the October 6 Nandigram Assembly bypoll.

The arrest came on Friday, September 18, after Mamata Banerjee announced at a press conference at her Kalighat residence that her faction would back the Congress candidate in Nandigram.

Why was Milan Pradhan arrested?

According to the available report, Milan Pradhan was arrested in connection with an old alleged murder case. The report does not provide further details about the case, including the alleged incident, the sections invoked or the circumstances of the arrest.

The arrest therefore comes at a significant point in the Nandigram bypoll, with Pradhan having emerged as the Congress candidate after a series of political developments in the constituency.

Why did Mamata Banerjee support the Congress candidate?

Mamata Banerjee announced support for the Congress candidate after Sanchita Pradhan Dey, who had been fielded by her faction, withdrew from the Nandigram contest.

According to the report, Pradhan Dey withdrew her candidature after a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Mamata subsequently announced that her faction would support the Congress candidate in the October 6 Nandigram Assembly bypoll.

The development placed Milan Pradhan at the centre of the latest political developments surrounding the Nandigram election.

Nandigram bypoll scheduled for October 6

The Nandigram Assembly bypoll is scheduled for October 6. The constituency has drawn attention ahead of the election following changes involving candidates and the political support announced by Mamata Banerjee’s faction.

With Milan Pradhan’s arrest now reported, the Congress candidate’s legal case is likely to become another important development in the run-up to the bypoll.

Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the candidate fielded by Mamata Banerjee’s faction of the Trinamool Congress for the Nandigram Assembly bypoll, has withdrawn from the contest.

The development came a day after the Election Commission announced that the rival Trinamool factions would not be allowed to use the party’s existing name and symbol for the upcoming bypolls. The poll panel later allotted new names and symbols to the two factions.

Dey had been announced as the Mamata faction’s Nandigram candidate on Sunday. She is a teacher in Nandigram who had lost her job following the cancellation of the appointments of 26,000 teachers in connection with an alleged recruitment scam.

Sanchita Pradhan Dey met Suvendu Adhikari

According to sources, Dey met West Bengal Chief Minister and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday. A photograph of the meeting also emerged.

Her withdrawal was announced on Friday afternoon as Mamata Banerjee was addressing a press conference over the Election Commission’s decision concerning the Trinamool factions.

With Dey no longer in the contest, Banerjee announced that her faction would support the Congress candidate in the Nandigram bypoll.

Banerjee said the decision had been taken within her party and that she had spoken with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while noting that the Congress had not been informed about the decision at that point.

New names and symbols for Trinamool factions

The Election Commission has allotted the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the Football Player symbol to the faction led by Mamata Banerjee.

The rival faction led by Arup Roy has been allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the Envelope symbol.

The Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls are scheduled for October 6, with counting set for October 9.