Sahil Wakode: IIT Bombay Student Death Probe Continues

The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode began a hunger strike in Mumbai on Thursday, demanding action against those they allege were responsible for subjecting their son to caste-based discrimination and harassment before his death.

Ravindra and Sonali Wakode first met the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, where they submitted a memorandum seeking a speedy investigation into the circumstances surrounding their son’s death. They later travelled to Azad Maidan and staged a protest there until 7 pm, in accordance with the permission granted by authorities.

The family subsequently left the protest site as required under the permitted arrangements. They are expected to decide whether to return to Azad Maidan for another protest.

The case has drawn attention to allegations of Caste Discrimination at the premier institution, while investigators are examining the events leading up to Sahil’s death and the allegations made by his family.

Sahil Wakode’s Parents Demand Action

Ravindra Wakode has alleged that his son repeatedly told the family that he faced caste discrimination at IIT Bombay. Speaking during the protest, he demanded that those accused of tormenting his son face action if the allegations are established.

“Those who tortured my son should be put behind bars,” Ravindra said, while alleging that Sahil had told the family about repeated experiences of caste discrimination at the institute.

The allegations are now part of an investigation being conducted by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. The precise circumstances that preceded Sahil’s death, including the allegations raised by his family, remain under investigation.

Sahil, a 22-year-old second-year BTech student, was found dead in his hostel room on the evening of September 18. His death has prompted demands from his family and others for a detailed examination of his experiences at the institute.

Parents Meet National Commission for Scheduled Castes

Before beginning their protest, Sahil’s parents met the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and submitted a memorandum seeking a time-bound and speedy investigation.

The meeting provided the family an opportunity to formally raise its allegations before a national statutory body concerned with the protection of the interests of Scheduled Castes.

The parents then moved to Azad Maidan, where they remained until the permitted end time of 7 pm. Their protest has become one of the latest developments in a case that has generated concern among students, political representatives and civil society groups.

The family’s central demand is that the allegations surrounding Sahil’s treatment at IIT Bombay be investigated and that responsibility be fixed if evidence establishes wrongdoing.

Crime Branch Investigates the Death

The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is investigating the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death.

The investigation is expected to examine the events preceding his death, interactions involving the student and allegations made by his family. Police are also expected to assess available documentary and digital evidence as part of the process.

A faculty member, Suryanarayan Doolla, has been named in an FIR alleging abetment to suicide on grounds of caste discrimination. He has been sent on leave while the investigation continues.

The action allows the investigation to proceed without the faculty member continuing his regular institutional responsibilities while allegations involving him are being examined.

Being named in an FIR does not by itself establish guilt. The allegations against the faculty member remain subject to investigation and the applicable legal process.

IIT Bombay Apologises Over Earlier Statement

The controversy intensified after IIT Bombay issued a fresh apology over an earlier statement concerning events that allegedly occurred during an examination involving Sahil.

The institute had previously linked his death to an alleged incident involving ChatGPT during an examination. It later acknowledged that it was inappropriate to characterise details surrounding the events preceding his death before those circumstances had been established through an investigation.

In a post on X, IIT Bombay said the circumstances leading to Sahil’s death “remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities”. The institute also said that details about the events preceding the death should not have been presented as established facts before the investigation had reached its conclusions.

The clarification has become an important part of the controversy because the family and others have sought a broader examination of the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death rather than conclusions based on an incident whose full context remains under investigation.

Examinations Postponed Amid Controversy

IIT Bombay has also postponed its mid-semester examinations that were scheduled for September 26 and 27.

The examinations have now been rescheduled for October 10 and 11. The change comes as the institute faces heightened attention over the investigation and concerns surrounding the circumstances leading to Sahil’s death.

The postponement also gives the institute additional time to manage academic arrangements while the controversy continues to develop.

Faculty Member Sent on Leave

Suryanarayan Doolla, a faculty member named in the FIR, has been sent on leave to facilitate an impartial investigation.

The FIR includes an allegation of abetment to suicide linked to caste discrimination. Investigators will have to determine whether the allegations are supported by evidence and whether any conduct attributed to individuals involved in the case meets the relevant legal standards.

The decision to send the faculty member on leave does not constitute a finding of guilt. It is an administrative step taken while the investigation is ongoing.

Earlier Email Draws Fresh Attention

An email attributed to Doolla from 2024 has also come under scrutiny during the controversy.

According to the reported contents of the email, Doolla, who was then Dean of Student Affairs, had cautioned students against asking classmates about their admission categories, JEE Advanced ranks or GATE scores.

The email reportedly warned that such questions could reveal information about a student’s caste or reserved-category status.

The email has gained renewed attention because of the allegations now being investigated. Its relevance to the current case, however, remains a matter for investigators to establish.

The existence of an earlier communication does not by itself establish a connection between that message and Sahil’s death. Investigators would need to determine whether there is evidence linking the circumstances described in the email to the allegations involving Sahil.

Examination Hall Footage Also Under Scrutiny

Television channels have aired CCTV footage from an examination hall showing Sahil’s movements before a professor reportedly approached him and took him away from the hall after he was allegedly caught copying.

The footage has become part of the public discussion surrounding the case, particularly because the earlier institutional statement referred to an examination-related incident.

Police have not publicly commented on the footage. Its relevance to the investigation will depend on what investigators can establish about the events shown, what occurred before and after the footage and whether the incident had any connection to the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death.

The existence of video footage can provide investigators with a record of movements and interactions, but footage from a limited period may not establish the complete sequence of events or the reasons behind an individual’s actions.

Political Protest Outside IIT Bombay

The case has also triggered political demonstrations, with Congress leaders and student activists gathering outside IIT Bombay on Thursday to express solidarity with Sahil’s family.

Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad, party workers and members of the National Students’ Union of India participated in the protest. Police detained several protesters, including Gaikwad.

Gaikwad described Sahil’s death as an “institutional murder” and called for a comprehensive investigation. She also said that the incident should be examined in the context of concerns over similar cases involving students at IITs.

Her statements represent the political response to the case, while the factual circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death remain subject to the police investigation.

Rahul Gandhi Speaks to Sahil’s Family

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also spoke with Sahil’s parents and assured them of support, according to party sources.

Gaikwad said Gandhi made a video call to the family while they were travelling to Mumbai from Washim district. According to her account, he told the family that he stood with them and would provide all possible assistance in their pursuit of justice.

The interaction has added a national political dimension to a case that had already prompted protests and demands for accountability at IIT Bombay.

For the family, however, the central demand remains an investigation into the allegations they have raised and action against anyone found responsible.

Questions Around Caste Discrimination

At the heart of the controversy are allegations that Sahil experienced caste discrimination during his time at IIT Bombay.

His parents have said he repeatedly told them about such experiences. Those allegations are now being examined alongside the circumstances surrounding his death.

Caste discrimination in educational institutions can involve a range of conduct, from exclusion and discriminatory treatment to harassment or other forms of unequal treatment. Establishing whether such conduct occurred in an individual case requires evidence about specific incidents, the people involved and the context in which they took place.

In Sahil’s case, investigators will have to determine whether the allegations made by his family can be corroborated and whether any conduct identified during the investigation contributed to the circumstances surrounding his death.

Why the Investigation Matters

The investigation has significance beyond the immediate circumstances of Sahil’s death because it has raised broader questions about how complaints involving caste discrimination and Student Welfare are handled at elite educational institutions.

The family is seeking accountability, while IIT Bombay has acknowledged that it should not have characterised events preceding Sahil’s death before they had been established through an investigation.

That clarification places greater emphasis on the need for evidence-based findings. The investigation must establish what happened, what interactions Sahil experienced and whether any institutional or individual conduct played a role.

It is also important to distinguish between allegations, administrative decisions and established findings. The FIR against a faculty member, the parents’ allegations and the political statements surrounding the case are not themselves final determinations of responsibility.

Investigation Continues Amid Family’s Protest

Sahil Wakode’s parents have chosen a hunger strike and public protest to press their demand for action, after taking their concerns to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.

The Mumbai Police Crime Branch continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the 22-year-old student’s death. The role of the faculty member named in the FIR, the allegations of caste discrimination and the events surrounding the examination incident are among the issues that have come under scrutiny.

IIT Bombay has postponed its mid-semester examinations and issued a fresh apology over its earlier characterisation of events preceding Sahil’s death. Political leaders and student activists have also joined the calls for a comprehensive investigation.

For Sahil’s parents, the immediate demand is for those they believe were responsible for tormenting their son to face action. Whether those allegations are established will depend on the ongoing investigation and the evidence collected by the authorities.