- By Sarju Saran Tiwari
- Thu, 03 Jul 2025 10:04 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
IIT-Bombay: A 22-year-old man, Bilal Ahmad Teli, was recently apprehended for masquerading as a student and illicitly residing within the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-Bombay) campus. For a remarkable 14 days, despite his limited formal education, Bilal managed to bypass the security protocols of this usually impregnable institution, raising significant questions.
The elaborate deception came to light on June 26 when an IIT-Bombay employee discovered Bilal sleeping on a sofa. Confronted, he fled. Subsequent CCTV analysis confirmed he wasn't a registered student but a persistent intruder. Officials promptly filed a complaint, leading to Bilal's arrest and a 14-day judicial custody until July 7.
During his unauthorized stay, the 'fake student' reportedly made himself comfortable, sleeping on hostel sofas, attending various lectures, and frequenting spots offering free coffee. He skillfully maintained his disguise by introducing himself as a PhD student, even presenting fabricated admission documents. He even attended an AI seminar.
Past Intrusion & Digital Footprint:
During interrogation, Bilal confessed to an astonishing fact: he had previously resided on the campus for an entire month last year, completely unnoticed. This revelation has intensified the investigation. Crime Branch officials seized his phone, discovering extensive deleted data, which they are now attempting to retrieve with cyber lab assistance. Bilal also recorded campus videos, though he claims not to have shared them.
Officials further uncovered Bilal's creation of 21 distinct email IDs. When questioned, he claimed these were for numerous blogs he managed, driven by an ambition to become a social media influencer and increase his earnings. This digital trail is now a key focus for investigators trying to understand his motives and activities.
Unraveling His Background:
Delving into his background, officials found Bilal is currently employed by a private company in Surat, Gujarat, reportedly earning a substantial monthly income of Rs 1.25 lakh. His keen interest in IT is evident from his past: after completing 12th standard, he pursued a six-month software development course and a one-year diploma in web design. His father runs a garment business.
The investigation has also revealed Bilal's international travel history, including trips to Bahrain in 2024 and Dubai before that. Given the sensitive nature of the institution, the Intelligence Bureau and anti-terror agencies have now joined the questioning, actively probing the possibility of an anti-national element angle in this perplexing case.