Mumbai: A day after IIT Bombay Director Shirish Kedar told agitating students that he will resign, the institute categorically stated on Monday that there was no such development.
In a social media post, the institute said, “Director IIT Bombay has NOT resigned.”
Director IIT Bombay has NOT resigned.
We categorically state that the related news is false. https://t.co/Prxomzm7Ux— IIT Bombay (@iitbombay) September 21, 2026
The campus has been rocked by protests for two days over alleged caste discrimination, following the suicide of second-year BTech student Sahil Ravindra Wakode on Friday.
Earlier on Sunday night, the IIT director met the agitating students on campus. When heckled as to when he was going to resign, Kedar said, “I am submitting my resignation to the Board on 21 September, because I don’t want students like you to get involved in unnecessary protests instead of focusing on studies and your future.”
He added: “We were only doing our job. We thought stopping students from cheating was our responsibility. But if you think it was wrong and want my resignation, I’m ready to give it.”
IIT Bombay Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare announced his resignation.🥺
Student: “When are you resigning?”
Prof. Shireesh Kedare: “I am submitting my resignation to the Board on 21 Sept. because I don’t want students like you to get involved in unnecessary protests instead of… pic.twitter.com/r68MEdvHhB
— Abhishek Kumar (@Abhishek060722) September 20, 2026
In a related development, Mumbai police has officially transferred investigation into the case to the Crime Branch.
Wakode was found dead in his room in Hostel Number 4 on the Powai campus on Friday, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester exam.
IIT Bombay said the student had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT during the test to seek answers. The institute maintained that no disciplinary action was taken; instead, the instructor and the Head of the Department counselled the student and assured him the incident would not harm his academic prospects.
Student Agitation
Students have launched an agitation on campus to press for accountability and systemic reform. On Sunday night, the administration discussed their 18-point charter, which includes student representation in academic committees, an independent probe into four suicide cases on campus; mental health workshops for faculty and measures against alleged casteist harassment among others.
Kedar signed the sheet of demands. A formal announcement was expected on Monday.
Despite the meeting, protesters said they would assemble at the IIT Bombay main gate under the banner ‘India Against Casteism’, invoking past campus suicides allegedly tied to casteism. “We are not here to die,” became a key slogan, as reported by NDTV.
Faculty Backs Invigilator
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has backed invigilator Suryanarayana Doolla, saying he followed protocol after finding the student with an unauthorised phone, and expressed concern over attacks on him.
The family, however, alleged caste-based harassment. On Sunday, Mumbai Police registered an FIR for abetment of suicide and under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against Doolla and two others.