Told them he was suicidal, no help: Brother of IIT Delhi student who jumped to death

Rishikesh Kumar, an M.Sc. Physics student, jumped from the sixth floor of the Lecture Hall Complex in IIT Delhi. Police said no suicide note was recovered from the spot and are examining his counselling records, mobile phone and other materials as part of the investigation.Rishikesh Kumar jumed from the 6th floor of a building in the premises of IIT Delhi on August 22.The family of a 31-year-old IIT Delhi student who jumped to his death on August 22 has accused the institute's authorities of failing to act despite being alerted to his suicidal state, and of repeatedly denying him support, including accommodation and assistance with his academic project.Rishikesh Kumar, an M.Sc. Physics student, jumped from the sixth floor of the Lecture Hall Complex. Police said no suicide note was recovered from the spot and are examining his counselling records, mobile phone and other materials as part of the investigation.Speaking to India Today, Rishikesh's brother Abhishek claimed that the family had repeatedly approached the IIT Delhi administration for hostel accommodation after Rishikesh returned to the institute following a medical break, but their requests went unanswered.He also alleged that Rishikesh was denied accommodation in a family quarter on campus and was subsequently assigned an academic project that he had to work on alone. 'ASSIGNED A PROJECT ALONE'According to Abhishek, Rishikesh had to take an academic break because of medical reasons and could not complete his second semester. When he returned for the third semester, he was assigned a research project but was asked to work on it alone.Abhishek said his brother had requested that he be paired with another student who was also working individually on a project, but the request was not accepted. “He was unable to secure a hostel room. We also requested accommodation in a family quarter, but that request was rejected,” Abhishek alleged.He said Rishikesh subsequently became increasingly distressed and would tell his mother that he did not understand what was happening and that nobody was helping him.'WE TOLD THEM HE WAS SUICIDAL'Abhishek said that the family alerted the administration about Rishikesh's mental health and their concern that he was suicidal.He claimed that despite being informed, the institute did not provide Rishikesh with any special assistance or adequate support.“Mental illness can happen to anyone, but the college's behaviour was so insensitive that we could not even discuss it,” Abhishek said.'CAN'T YOU HANDLE EVEN ONE CHILD?'Abhishek also claimed that his mother faced insensitive remarks from a woman accompanying the dean during one interaction with the administration.According to him, the woman old his mother, “Can’t you even handle one child?”Abhishek said the incident deeply affected Rishikesh. He said that his brother later told their mother that she was being insulted because of him and that he no longer wanted to continue his studies at IIT Delhi.“He told his mother that his life had become meaningless and that he was unable to accomplish anything,” Abhishek said.IIT DELHI FORMS EXTERNAL ENQUIRY PANELIIT Delhi has constituted an external inquiry committee to investigate Rishikesh's death. The panel includes former Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar and a psychiatrist from AIIMS Delhi, among others.The institute has also announced financial assistance for the family and said it would strengthen its student grievance-redressal mechanisms.But Rishikesh's family has had no communication with the IIT Delhi administration since his death and has not yet received copies of the FIR or post-mortem report.“We want justice,” Abhishek said, adding that the family hoped the investigation would establish what led to Rishikesh's death.STUDENTS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITYRishikesh's death has sparked protests at IIT Delhi, with students raising concerns over student welfare, mental health support and institutional accountability.Hundreds of students gathered on campus, raising slogans of “Justice for Rishikesh”.Abhishek said he was glad students were raising their voices over his brother's death but feared that the issue could fade away after a few days.He pointed to previous student deaths at the institute and said a permanent solution was needed to prevent similar incidents.“After the deaths of eight or nine students, we still have no confidence,” he said.- EndsPublished By: Karishma Saurabh KalitaPublished On: Aug 25, 2026 14:10 IST