Was invited to speak at IIT Roorkee: Sam Pitroda after Centre rejects his 'IIT Ranchi' hacking claim

Pitroda on Thursday posted on X, "I was invited to speak at IIT Roorkee @iitroorkee during the Cognizant event on February 1, 2025, via @Zoom with students and faculty. Unfortunately, just minutes after my speech, a hacker infiltrated the video link and began streaming explicit, inappropriate content.

"We immediately shut down the video and ended the event. It’s deeply disturbing that such incidents occur, especially in academic spaces meant for learning and growth. #CyberSecurity remains a critical concern, and this serves as a stark reminder of the importance of digital safety and vigilance."

In an X post on February 22, Pitroda, who often stirs rows with his statements, claimed hackers started playing some objectionable content disrupting the virtual session with IIT Ranchi.

Rejecting the claims, the Union Ministry of Education said no IIT exists in Ranchi.

The ministry then went on to claim there is an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Ranchi but it has learnt Pitroda was never invited to address the students.

The ministry posted on X, "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. It is pertinent to state that there is an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Ranchi. But IIIT, Ranchi has also confirmed that Shri Sam Pitroda has not been invited by Institute to any conference/seminar to deliver a lecture, physically or virtually."

"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, IITs reputation is built on the merit, hard work, and achievement of many students, teachers, and academia."

"Ministry of Education condemns the statement and reiterates that any such attempt to malign the image of the premier institution will face legal repercussions," he added.