IIT Delhi Forms Inquiry Panel After MSc Student Rishikesh Kumar's Death
NEW DELHI — IIT Delhi has constituted a five-member External Inquiry Committee following student protests on the campus over the death of 31-year-old MSc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar.
The inquiry panel was formed a day after hundreds of students gathered on the IIT Delhi campus demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Kumar's death. According to institute sources, the committee includes former Uttarakhand Director General of Police and IIT Delhi alumnus Ashok Kumar, as well as Prof Pratap Sharma, head of the Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS New Delhi.
The student's death has prompted widespread scrutiny over mental health support and administrative handling at premier engineering institutions. The victim's family alleged that his mental state had deteriorated significantly in the days leading up to his death, citing academic setbacks and administrative difficulties.
His brother, Abhishek Kumar, stated that the 31-year-old had withdrawn from routine activities, described himself as a "big loser," and informed his mother that he was experiencing suicidal thoughts. "He had started feeling like a complete failure in life. For nearly a week, he had lost interest in everything. He would not properly use his mobile phone, would not work on his laptop or type anything and had abandoned almost everything," his brother said.
The family also alleged that Rishikesh was disturbed by interactions with institute authorities and had faced problems securing hostel accommodation following a semester drop. As a result, the family was staying in a rented two-room apartment. They also noted that they were informed of his death by the police rather than the institute administration.
The incident has also triggered reactions from the wider academic community. Ashutosh Ranka, an IIT Kanpur alumnus, released a video expressing solidarity with the protesting students at IIT Delhi. Ranka raised concerns over student welfare, academic pressure, and accommodation issues, calling for professional counsellors, therapists, and psychiatrists across IIT campuses, while urging that no punitive action be taken against protesting students.
Other public figures, including CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and Saurav Das, also amplified calls for accountability in solidarity with the students. The newly formed external committee has been tasked with conducting a detailed inquiry into the matter.
