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The father of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide, has demanded the arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and Director Shireesh Kedare, alleging that his son was subjected to caste-based harassment and pressure before his death.
Sahil, 22, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room on September 18, hours after an incident during an examination. The Mumbai Crime Branch is now investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, including CCTV footage from the examination hall, campus and hostel.
Speaking to the media, Sahilโs father, Ravindra Wakode, said, โMy son was studying at IIT, and then I got a call that he had committed suicide. Dean Kedare and Doolla should be arrested.โ
He alleged that his son had been facing pressure from Doolla since last year.
โHe was tortured, that should be investigated, I trust the crime branch and Suryanarayana Doolla and Dean Kedare should be arrested, my son was being targeted and casteism slurs were used against him and he was threatened that he would be targeted and action will be taken,โ he said.
The family has alleged that Sahil had spoken to his father about caste-based remarks before his death.
โMy son had told me on the 13th, when I visited him, I told him that IIT is very difficult and somehow manage. Doolla would say that he is upper caste and you are of lower caste,โ Ravindra said.
He further alleged that the professor had been targeting his son for a prolonged period.
โHe was being pressured and targeted by Doolla since last year,โ he said.
These remain allegations made by Sahilโs family and are being investigated. An FIR registered following the fatherโs complaint names Doolla and invokes provisions related to abetment to suicide and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. IIT Bombay has denied caste-based discrimination on campus.
A senior Crime Branch source said Professor Doollaโs statement has not yet been recorded and that he is likely to be called for questioning soon. The source also clarified that there is no โclean chitโ or finding of โno evidenceโ against him at this stage, as the investigation was still underway.
Sahilโs death came hours after he was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination. IIT Bombay had initially said he had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.
The institute has since apologised for its earlier communication, saying it was inappropriate to characterise the circumstances preceding Sahilโs death before they had been established through investigation.
His father has questioned the account of cheating.
โRegarding the cheating in the exam, they should provide evidence,โ he said.
โYou didn't check him and say that he was cheating. I have lost my son, you demand their arrest under the Atrocities Act,โ he added.
Fresh CCTV footage from the examination hall, reported to cover the period between around 12.30 pm and 12.45 pm, is now part of the Crime Branch investigation. The footage reportedly shows Doolla questioning Sahil and taking him away from the other students. Sahil was later seen returning to his hostel at around 1.25 pm, according to reports.
Ravindra also rejected any suggestion that his son was struggling academically.
โHe was a studious student,โ he said.
The family has maintained that Sahil had performed well academically and that the allegations against him should not be treated as established facts before the investigation is complete.
The case was transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch amid protests on the IIT Bombay campus. Investigators are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to reconstruct Sahilโs movements and establish what happened between the examination and his death.
Meanwhile, IIT Bombay has removed Doolla from his responsibilities as Dean of Administrative Affairs, although he continues as faculty. The institute has also agreed to consider an 18-point charter submitted by students, including demands for an independent investigation, changes to disciplinary procedures, greater student representation and stronger counselling and mental-health support.
The investigation into Sahilโs death and the allegations raised by his family remain ongoing.
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