New Delhi: Facing severe backlash and protests over the death of a 20-year-old Dalit student, the IIT Bombay on Monday (September 21) apologised for its earlier statements wherein it had claimed that the student was found using his mobile phone during his mid-term exam, and that no disciplinary action was initiated against him.“We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil. The details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities,” IIT Bombay said in a post on X on Monday.“In view of the ongoing investigation, it was inappropriate to have set out or characterised details relating to the events preceding his demise before they had been duly established through the appropriate investigative process,” the latest statement issued on Monday added.We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil.The details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities. In view of…— IIT Bombay (@iitbombay) September 21, 2026Sahil Wakode, 20, an engineering student at IIT Bombay, was found dead in his hostel room on Friday (September 18). He allegedly died by suicide.The apology on Monday comes after in its previous statement on Saturday (September 19) had said that during an examination, Sahil was found using a mobile phone in the exam hall and uploaded the examination question paper on ChatGPT to seek answers.Students of the institute and his parents have accused IIT Bombay of casteism and of humiliating Sahil, which they say resulted in his death.The Wire has reported that Sahil’s classmates and friends have accused professor Sooryanarayana Doolla of the energy science department of pushing him to the extreme. Doolla is also dean of administrative affairs and was an invigilator in the hall where Sahil was taking his mid-term exam, held between 11 am and 1 pm on Friday.Earlier on Sunday (September 20), in wake of students protesting over the death of Sahil, IIT-Bombay director Shireesh Kedare signed an 18-point charter of demands of the students that included immediate suspension of professor Doolla and removal of any stakeholder found guilty after the investigation, an open house involving the Director, Dean SA, Dean AP and Sahil’s department HOD and an independent panel of professors, student representatives, external members and members recommended by students to investigate the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death, reported Times of India.(If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. The Suicide Prevention India Foundation has a list of telephone numbers they can call to speak in confidence. Icall, a counselling service run by TISS, has maintained a crowdsourced list of therapists across the country. You could also take them to the nearest hospital.)