‘He was seeking counseling, appeared withdrawn’: Police detail last days of IIT Bombay student who died after fall from hostel building

Police are likely to record the statement of the professional Naman Agarwal was consulting on Thursday to gather more details, an official said.

Written by: Manish Kumar Pathak, Pallavi Smart

3 min readMumbaiUpdated: Feb 5, 2026 05:41 PM IST

IIT Bombay student dies after hostel fall

Police said Agarwal had written a one-page note in his diary, the contents of which are being examined as part of the inquiry.

Police probing the death of IIT Bombay student Naman Agarwal said that during questioning of his friends, they learnt that the 21-year-old had been seeking counselling on campus and appeared reclusive in the days leading up to the incident.

Agarwal, a second-year BTech (Civil Engineering) student, died after falling from a hostel building on the IIT Bombay campus early Wednesday. Police officials who recorded statements of students, including his roommate, said Agarwal had visited the hospital inside the IIT campus on February 2 and February 3 on consecutive days, where he met the professional he was consulting.

Police said Agarwal had written a one-page note in his diary, the contents of which are being examined as part of the inquiry. Police are likely to record the statement of the professional he was consulting on Thursday to gather more details, an official said.

Known as an academically bright and quiet young man, Agarwal had appeared withdrawn to some of his friends in the days before the incident.

A resident of Hostel 3, Agarwal had gone to the newly inaugurated Hostel 4, from where he is suspected to have fallen around 1.30 am on Wednesday. Students who were awake at the time rushed to the spot after hearing a loud sound, and institute security was alerted.

“When Naman fell from the 9th floor, the hostel was mostly awake as many students sleep late. Students heard a loud thud and rushed toward the source of noise and were shocked by what they saw. Security was immediately alerted as students started gathering at the spot,” said another student. On Wednesday night, IIT Bombay students held a condolence meet in his memory.

Police are also in possession of CCTV footage from a camera installed on the terrace, in which, an officer said, Agarwal is seen entering the terrace alone.

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The viscera have been preserved and will be sent to the Kalina Forensic Laboratory for chemical analysis, the official added.

Outside the Rajawadi Hospital mortuary, where the body was kept, relatives described Agarwal as a hardworking and gifted student. “He was able to get admission to top most IIT Bombay, that is proof enough to know how hard working and bright he has been. It is impossible to believe that he was undergoing any kind of counseling,” said Pawan Kumar Goyal, a relative who was in Mumbai to attend a wedding in the extended family.

“I cancelled that plan after receiving a call about Naman’s death, late night on Tuesday. His parents are out of town at this moment so they have been asked to come back to our native place in Rajgadh tahsil in Rajasthan where we will be taking Naman’s body,” Goyal said.

Agarwal’s father runs a food-grain business and he has two sisters. “One of the two sisters is a chartered accountant and the other is an engineering student (CAs). All three siblings have been academically bright,” Goyal said, adding that the family hoped for a conclusive investigation.

Manish Kumar Pathak

Manish Kumar Pathak is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates substantial Expertise and Authority across the complex field of crime reporting, with a strong focus on law enforcement actions, fraud, and cyber security challenges facing the metropolitan region. Expertise & Authority Affiliation: Reports for the nationally recognized daily, The Indian Express, providing his content with high Trustworthiness. Geographical Focus: Provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of breaking news and investigative matters across Mumbai and the surrounding regions (e.g., Thane, Vasai). Core Authority: His reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial beats, including: Cyber & Financial Crime: Extensive coverage of sophisticated scams, including cases involving high-value cyber fraud, stock market manipulation scams, and fraudsters using government figures to gain trust. Law Enforcement & Investigation: Reports directly on major police actions, including arrests made by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in fraud cases (e.g., MHADA flat scams) and detailed coverage of murder and kidnapping investigations. Major Incidents & Public Safety: Covers significant incidents like building collapses, road accidents, and public safety issues such as theft at large public events. Defence & Maritime: Also covers key updates regarding the Indian Navy, including the commissioning of new vessels and strategic defense announcements. Manish Kumar Pathak's consistent focus on crime, fraud, and the workings of the Mumbai police system establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for critical news in Western India. ... Read More

Pallavi Smart

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More