IIT Bombay students clarify : protest isn't about defending cheating

IIT Bombay student representatives have issued a statement clarifying that their protest over Sahil Wakode's death is not meant to defend cheating or academic misconduct. "We do not stand for or condone cheating or any form of academic misconduct," they said, adding that Sahil's death compelled them to reflect on systemic issues within the institute.

The representatives said the protest was a collective effort to raise long-standing concerns and push for "meaningful and strong institutional reforms," not to justify what happened during the exam. They also welcomed Sunday's open house with the Director and other administration members, saying it gave students a chance to directly raise questions and concerns.

On Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, removed as Dean and now under investigation, the students said they had never presumed his guilt or sought to prejudge the probe. "We stand with Professor Doolla as a member of our faculty community and believe that the investigation..." should be allowed to run its course fairly.