Students’ Affairs Council at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) have called for the establishment of a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a final-year student last month. Akshith Bhukya, 24, from Warangal, Telangana, was found dead in his hostel room on 26 September, in what is believed to be a case of suicide.
In an email addressed to IIM-A Director Bharat Bhasker, the Students’ Affairs Council expressed “grave concerns” over the institute’s handling of the incident. The email, signed by Atman Soni, General Secretary of the 60th Students’ Affairs Council, noted that “the steps taken by the institute to date have failed to inspire confidence among the student body.”
The council demanded an independent inquiry into Bhukya’s death and asked for institutional support to ensure the police investigation is conducted “in a free, fair and transparent manner.”
Bhukya was found dead just before The Red Bricks Summit (TRBS), the institute’s annual management symposium. Bhukya was the head of the TRBS coordination committee and his death led to the event being cancelled.
In the email sent on 12 October, the council raised concerns about the pressure Bhukya faced in organising the symposium. They alleged that an administrative officer’s handling of TRBS-related matters may have contributed to his stress. “Preliminary evidence suggests that Akshith was under significant pressure due to the uncooperative stance adopted by the IIM-A administration regarding TRBS,” the email claimed.
The students also voiced dissatisfaction with the police investigation, alleging a lack of seriousness from the institute. They criticised the narrow focus of the police inquiry, which, according to the council, was limited to investigating the use of the IIM-A logo in promotional materials based on a complaint from Bhukya’s father. “The broader context surrounding the incident has not been sufficiently examined,” the email argued.
It was reported that the friction between Bhukya and the administration may have been linked to a sponsorship issue for TRBS, where the sponsor allegedly used the IIM-A logo without proper authorisation. This incident reportedly upset senior institute officials, adding to Bhukya’s stress.
Bhukya’s father, Hemanth Bhukya, had lodged a complaint with the Vastrapur police, raising concerns that his son had been pressured by a staff member at the institute. He expressed frustration with the lack of progress in the investigation, stating, “We last heard from the police 10 days ago. We only want justice for my son’s death.”
The students also questioned the administration’s decision to prioritise a non-IIM event, over the institute’s long-standing TRBS event.
The council has demanded a clarification on why a non-IIM event, was prioritised over the annual student symposium.
In their communication, the students stressed that “the denial of permission for external participants created immense pressure on Akshith, contributing to the stress he faced in the days leading up to his tragic death.”
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