'There is no IIT in Ranchi': Centre counters Sam Pitroda’s hacking claim

NEW DELHI: The ministry of education has strongly refuted claims made by Indian Overseas Congress president Sam Pitroda regarding an alleged hacking incident during his virtual interaction with students at "IIT Ranchi."
In a webcast on X, Pitroda claimed that while addressing "several hundred students" at "IIT Ranchi," the session was disrupted when hackers began playing "pornographic content." He questioned whether such interference was acceptable in a democracy.

The ministry dismissed his statement as "baseless" and clarified that no such institution exists in Ranchi.
Responding to his remarks, the ministry of education issued a firm clarification. "It has come to the notice that Shri Sam Pitroda shared a video on his X handle on 22nd February 2025, claiming he was speaking at IIT Ranchi when the event was disrupted due to hacking. It is hereby clarified that there is no IIT in Ranchi. Therefore, the statement made in that video is not only baseless but also reeks of ignorance."

The ministry acknowledged that Ranchi is home to an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), but said that Pitroda had not been invited to any event by the institute. "IIIT Ranchi has confirmed that Shri Sam Pitroda has not been invited by the institute to any conference or seminar, physically or virtually."
The statement further criticised Pitroda’s remarks, accusing him of attempting to tarnish the reputation of the prestigious IIT system. "Such a reckless statement seems to be an attempt to malign the image of an extremely reputed institution of the country, i.e., the Indian Institute of Technology. This institution has stood the test of time and produced some of the brightest minds in the country. Unlike such an uninformed person, IIT's reputation is built on the merit, hard work, and achievement of many students, teachers, and academia."
Condemning Pitroda’s statement, the ministry also warned of legal consequences for any attempts to damage the image of India’s top educational institutions. "The Ministry of Education condemns the statement and reiterates that any such attempt to malign the image of the premier institution will face legal repercussions."