Rejected By IIT Kanpur, Student Hacks Website; Director Offers Him A Chance Instead Of FIR
Rejected By IIT Kanpur, Student Hacks Website; Director Offers Him A Chance Instead Of FIR Published By, Edited By Last Updated: July 29, 2026, 15:04
Rejected By IIT Kanpur, Student Hacks Website; Director Offers Him A Chance Instead Of FIR Published By, Edited By Last Updated: July 29, 2026, 15:04 IST An IIT Kanpur aspirant hacked the institute's website, and left a message that read "Site is Hacked, All I Need is Just a Fair Chance." The student also breached parts of IIT Madras's website in the process, and later shared screenshots on X and Reddit. A student denied admission to IIT Kanpur’s new BTech cybersecurity course hacked the institute’s website in protest, leaving behind a message that read “Site is Hacked, All I Need is Just a Fair Chance." The incident triggered alarm on campus, with an FIR initially considered — but director Prof Manindra Agrawal chose to test the student’s skills instead.
The student also breached parts of IIT Madras’s website in the process, and later shared screenshots on X and Reddit, claiming the hack was meant to showcase his technical ability rather than cause harm. He said he had submitted all required documents and paid the fee for the new BTech cybersecurity programme, but wasn’t shortlisted for the hackathon round that was part of the admission process. Why Wasn’t The Student Shortlisted In The First Place? Agrawal said the student was not shortlisted because he lacked prior experience in cybersecurity, and that admission for this year is no longer possible since the process has already concluded. However, instead of moving straight to an FIR, the institute decided to first assess the student’s technical capability.
He will be called to IIT Kanpur for a test, and if he proves his ability, he could be considered for the next admission cycle. Will Action Still Be Taken Against Him? IIT Kanpur clarified that accessing any computer system without authorisation is illegal. Institute experts will speak with the student to ensure the lapse isn’t repeated. An official said an FIR was considered initially, but the institute decided to first examine the student’s claims and technical merit, noting that guiding talented young people in the right direction is equally important. Earlier this year, the institute had similarly offered a job to a young person who had found security flaws in CBSE’s online portal. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad.
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