IIT Bombay student death: Parents spend eight hours with Crime Branch

Sahil Wakode's parents spent eight hours at the Mumbai Crime Branch as investigators continued the IIT Bombay death probe. The case has intensified scrutiny over alleged caste discrimination, exam events and institutional accountability.

In Short

• Investigators questioned students, invigilators and officials to reconstruct examination day events
• Forensic experts are trying to unlock Wakode's phone showing missed calls
• Parents allege repeated caste discrimination and demand action against alleged tormentors

The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide on September 18, spent about eight hours at the Mumbai Crime Branch office in Bandra West on Friday, a police official said. They reached at 10 am and left around 6 pm. Their statements had been recorded during an earlier visit, and officials did not say whether any fresh information or statements were taken during Friday's session.

The case is being investigated by the Crime Branch, which has so far recorded the statements of 20 people and is also trying to access Wakode's locked mobile phone. His parents have alleged caste discrimination against him at the institute, while Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale visited IIT Bombay and called for a thorough investigation into the student's death.

According to the preliminary investigation, Wakode, 22, a student of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, went straight to his hostel room after leaving the examination hall on September 18.

The institute had initially said he had been caught using ChatGPT on his mobile phone during the examination. When he did not come out of his room by around 7 pm, the door was opened and he was found dead inside.

Police said the 20 people questioned so far include students who were in the examination hall, invigilators and administrative officials.

Wakode's mobile phone was protected by a pattern lock, limiting access, though several missed-call notifications were visible on the screen, an official said. Forensic experts were trying to access the device.

IIT Bombay faculty member Suryanarayan Doolla, who is named in the FIR alleging abetment to suicide on grounds of caste discrimination, has been sent on leave to allow an impartial probe.

Wakode's parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, began a hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Thursday, alleging that their son repeatedly faced caste discrimination at the institute and seeking action against his "tormentors". They left the ground at night.

During his visit to IIT Bombay, Athawale, a prominent Dalit leader from Maharashtra, met the institute's director and senior officials and also visited Wakode's hostel room, officials said.

"Any student who gets admission to the IIT is very clever and highly capable. Sahil's death should be thoroughly investigated and action should be taken against those responsible," the minister said.

"The way he died by suicide suggests there could be some major reason behind it. Someone may have insulted him and forced him to take the extreme step," Athawale said. He added that he would discuss the issue with Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi.

The institute has apologised twice over its earlier communication that said Wakode died by suicide hours after he was allegedly caught using ChatGPT in an exam.

Some television channels later aired CCTV footage from the examination hall showing his movements before a professor approached him and took him out of the hall.

Police said the footage was being used to reconstruct the sequence of events, as the investigation continues into Wakode's death and the allegations made by his parents.

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