The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) is at the centre of a controversy following the suicide of second-year PGP student Akshith Bhukya. It has come to light that CAO has previously been reported to the B-school authorities for alleged “high-handedness.”
Media reports indicate that CAO Brigadier (Retd) Dinesh Sharma dismissed at least four staff members within a two-month period, raising concerns among other employees.
The victim’s father, Hemant Bhukya, had already accused two individuals, including the CAO, of harassing Akshith before his suicide on September 26. Police have not yet questioned the CAO, who was placed on leave while the inquiry is ongoing.
Regarding the CAO’s involvement in the suicide, the 60th Students’ Affair Council at IIM-A has expressed concerns in a recent letter to the director.
The email further asked whether Sharma, who once worked at IIM Lucknow, had been given a new role—advisor, integrated facilities management and also, whether it was specially created. The council questioned whether the IIM-A director made the decision alone or if a committee was established to make it. The email additionally sought an explanation for the three-month delay in publicly advertising the vacant job of CAO and an outline of the formal recruiting method used for the position. It was advertised on October 3.
The email stated, “We are particularly concerned about Brigadier Sharma, Advisor-Administration, being involved in decisions related to TRBS, specifically regarding the denial of audience entry for external participants,” and it also raised questions about the CAO’s duties and present status.
IIM-A officials told a media outlet, “The institute has been hosting multiple programmes simultaneously and makes diligent efforts for the smooth functioning of each of them. In this hour of grief for the entire institute community, we remain committed to providing full cooperation in the ongoing investigation by the competent authorities and ensuring the welfare of our students. We request you to disregard any misinformation.”
Professor Bharat Bhasker informed the IIM-A alumni in a letter on Monday that all internal procedures pertaining to campus events are “being carefully reviewed and reassessed to prioritise the welfare of our students.”
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