Casteist poster row: IIT Mandi to hand over probe to police

Institute has decided to refer the matter to police for criminal probe after internal inquiry team seizes the purported poster

4 min readShimlaUpdated: Sep 8, 2026 08:48 PM IST

IIT Mandi faculty and students in Aug 15 event in the campus. (Special arrangement photo)

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has decided to hand over to the police the investigation into a purported casteist poster displayed on its campus during a Janmashtami programme, after its nine-member fact-finding committee completes its inquiry. The committee has already confiscated the poster as evidence but is yet to identify the student who allegedly put it up during the religious programme on September 4.

“We have confiscated the poster. Preliminary probe suggests that the event was not organised by any department of the institute. Students from different courses themselves came up with the idea of organising the programme,” a committee member said.

The nine-member committee is headed by Prof Viswanath Balakrishna, HoD, Department of Mechanical and Materialistic Engineering. Six of its members are from institute’s Reservation Cell.

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Registrar Dr Kumar Sambhav Pandey confirmed that the poster has been confiscated. “It establishes that the poster was showcased inside the campus. We have decided to forward the matter to the police. We cannot disclose all the facts at this stage of the fact-finding probe,” he told The Indian Express.

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He said the institute and Director Prof Laxmidhar Behera were “firmly opposed to casteism, linguicism, regionalism and any kind of discrimination on the basis of religion”.

IIT Mandi campus (Special arrangement photo)

The controversy erupted after a photograph and a video purportedly showing the poster were circulated on social media, triggering outrage and criticism of the institute administration.

The poster, titled “Bhagavad Gita — The Timeless Wisdom”, was displayed outside the institute auditorium. It divided society into Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras, describing their respective roles as “spread God’s message”, “protect society and spirituality”, “drive economy, support others” and “serve higher classes”. It also carried a verse stating that the four divisions of human society were created according to the “three modes of material nature and the work associated with them”.

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Sources said Behera was away from the campus when the celebrations were held and returned on Monday after being away for nearly a fortnight. He had ordered the fact-finding inquiry on Sunday.

Ordering the probe, Behera, in an email to the IIT Mandi community had “empathised with members of our community who have been hurt by this incident”, and added that the institute was committed to upholding “the values of equality, social justice, scientific temper” and other principles enshrined in the Constitution.

Meanwhile, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) criticised the religious programme, with its state unit president Anil Thakur alleging that holding “such activities at an educational institution amounts to violation of Article 28 of the Constitution”.

SFI state secretary Sunny Sekta demanded action against those responsible for organising or permitting and warned that SFI would launch an agitation if the Himachal Pradesh government failed to take cognisance of the matter.

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The controversy comes months after IIT Mandi faced criticism over a June conference organised by its Centre for Indian Knowledge System and Mental Health Applications, which included sessions on the Bhagavad Gita, Ayurveda and reincarnation.

A section of scientists and researchers had alleged that students were being compelled to attend such events. The institute had denied the allegation. Registrar Pandey said, “That conference was wrongly interpreted in the media by a section of people. The conference was centred on ‘Mind, Brain and Consciousness’ and saw participation from people from across the world”.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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