Student found dead at IIM-B hostel campus, parents file 'suspicious' death complaint

Bengaluru: An MBA student was mysteriously found dead inside the hostel campus of the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore on Sunday, just hours before his placement interview.

Nilay Kailash Patil, a 29-year-old native of Surat, Gujarat, had celebrated his birthday, till around 12.30 am in a friend’s room that was in a different hostel block. Around 6.30 am, a security guard discovered Patil lying unconscious on the lawn behind his hostel block, where his room was situated, the police said.

Security personnel immediately performed CPR, but Patil did not respond. He was rushed to Fortis Hospital on Bannerghatta Main Road, but he had died by then, according to a police officer.

Patil’s parents arrived in the city late on Sunday night and filed a complaint with the Mico Layout police, urging a thorough investigation into their son’s “suspicious” death.

The police have registered an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), requiring an inquiry into deaths under suspicious circumstances.

"We needed the parents’ permission for the postmortem, so we waited for their arrival. The cause of death will be clear once the postmortem report is out, allowing us to proceed with the investigation,” the police officer stated.

No severe injuries

According to police sources, Patil had no severe injuries, but did have scratch marks on one side of his body. The postmortem report will determine the cause of death.

“The security guard patrolled the area around 1.30 am, but did not see Patil. The area was dark, and CCTV cameras did not cover that part of the hostel,” an officer said.

According to preliminary investigation, Patil may have returned to his second-floor room after the birthday celebration, around 12.20 am. Investigators suspect he freshened up and stepped onto his balcony for a smoke when the incident occurred.

“It’s an old building with a relatively low balcony railing. We believe he may have slipped and tried to hold on to the railing, but lost his grip,” the officer explained.

The officer added that the scratch marks on Patil’s body could have resulted from brushing against the wall while attempting to cling to the railing. The police consider the incident an accidental fall, as there were no signs of forced entry into his room. Patil’s phone, spectacles, and wallet were found on his bed.

“We discovered cigarette butts on the balcony. He might have stepped out for a smoke and slipped, but we are not ruling out other possibilities,” the officer told DH.

Scheduled interview

Police sources revealed that Patil had cleared a written test for a company conducting campus placements and was to give an interview at 9 am on Sunday. He was the only child to his parents.