Was Nilay Patel’s Death an Accident or Something More? Family and Activists Demand CBI Probe into IIMB Student Death

Bengaluru- The untimely death of Nilay Kailash Patel, a bright and promising student from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), has raised serious concerns about caste discrimination, campus culture, and institutional accountability.

Nilay, an exceptional achiever, was found dead on January 5, 2025, reportedly after falling from the third floor of his hostel.

Nilay Patel belongs to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community, though The Mooknayak had earlier reported him as an OBC student based on details provided by IIM Bangalore sources.

The incident has sparked allegations of negligence and potential foul play. Activists, Nilay’s grieving family are calling for a thorough investigation, with the All India OBC Students’ Association (AIOBSCA) demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry. Nilay's father has raised concerns about the fairness of the autopsy report, suspecting discrepancies in its findings.

Nilay Patel: A Journey of Excellence Cut Short

Nilay Patel, who hailed from a financially stable family in Gujarat, was a bright student who had cleared the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2022 with an impressive 99+ percentile and secured admission at par with the comparable standard of merit of general category.

Known for his academic brilliance and introverted nature, Nilay got placed on the first day in summer placement for internship. His father, Kailash Patel, a PhD in Management, and his mother, a science teacher, had high hopes for their son’s future. “Nilay had no personal or family-related stress. There was no reason for depression unless something serious happened at the campus,” Patel reportedly told AIOBSCA President Kiran Kumar Gowd.

Raising Doubts: Accident or Systemic Failure?

Dr. Patel, still in shock, shared grave concerns with Gowd, over his son’s death, citing inconsistencies surrounding the incident:

• Unusual Circumstances of the Fall: Nilay’s fall reportedly occurred between 2:30 and 6:00 AM. The question has been raised that how no one heard any sound when a tall student fell from a height of 25 feet.

• Low Balcony Wall: The balcony wall from which Nilay is suspected to have fallen is said to be only 2.5 feet high—barely above knee level—raising doubts about whether the fall was accidental.

• Missing Spectacles: Nilay, who always wore glasses, was found without them. The absence of his spectacles has further deepened suspicions about the nature of the incident.

Kiran Kumar Gowd speculated whether the fall could have occurred during birthday celebrations involving "birthday bumps," a common ritual among students. “Nilay’s father has doubts about how such an incident could occur without anyone noticing or intervening,” Gowd told The Mooknayak.

The Mooknayak reached out to Nilay's father for details; however, the family was occupied with mourning rituals and is expected to be available for a conversation at a later time.

Activists have pointed out systemic issues within premier educational institutions like IIMB, particularly concerning students from marginalized communities. AIOBSCA has highlighted that: Students from marginalized backgrounds often face isolation, humiliation, and discrimination from peers and faculty belonging to dominant castes.

Internal sources at IIMB revealed that there are no robust mechanisms to address issues faced by such students, leaving their grievances unnoticed and unresolved.

“This is not an isolated case,” Gowd said. “Nilay’s tragic death is a reflection of the systemic failure to provide a safe and inclusive environment for marginalized students in elite institutions.”

Nilay’s death has triggered widespread outrage, with AIOBSCA leading the demand for a CBI investigation to uncover the truth.

“We demand a CBI inquiry into Nilay Patel’s untimely death. It is imperative to determine whether this was an accident or a result of deeper systemic issues,” Gowd said.

The Mooknayak has reached out to the IIM Bangalore Director via email, seeking clarity and an official statement regarding Nilay Patel's tragic demise. The story would be updated on receiving a response from the institution.

The incident also comes in the backdrop of a recent Supreme Court observation highlighting the rising suicides among students from marginalized backgrounds in premier institutions.

 The apex court is hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, two students from the marginalised communities who committed suicides reportedly after facing caste based harassments. The PIL calls for mechanisms to prevent caste-based discrimination in educational institutions.

Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul noted that 115 student suicides were reported in IITs alone between 2004 and 2024, emphasizing the need for implementing the 2012 UGC Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging and Discrimination in Higher Educational Institutions. The court recognised it as a highly sensitive matter.