IIT-Bombay student death case: Crime Branch takes over investigation amid caste harassment allegations

The Mumbai Police has transferred the investigation into the death of an IIT-Bombay second-year student to the Crime Branch, with an Assistant Commissioner of Police-rank officer set to lead the probe.

The decision came late on Sept 19, a day after the student, Sahil, was found dead in his hostel room. The development follows allegations by his family that he faced caste-based harassment and was subjected to pressure by an IIT-Bombay professor.

On Sept 20, the IIT-Bombay Faculty Forum expressed condolences to Sahil’s family while defending Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who has been named in the FIR along with other institute officials. The forum said Doolla had acted according to academic procedures approved by the institute’s Senate.

The faculty body referred to the examination incident that preceded Sahil’s death and said Doolla had reported it in accordance with the institute’s established process. It also said it was “absolutely distressed” by the impact the allegations had had on the professor’s reputation.

Sahil, a second-year student at IIT-Bombay, was found dead in his hostel room on Sept 18. Doolla was reportedly invigilating the examination during which the student was allegedly found carrying a phone. Reports have said that Sahil had uploaded the examination question paper on an AI platform.

The student’s family has alleged that he was subjected to casteist remarks. His father, Ravindra, stated in the FIR that Sahil had told him that Doolla had harassed him for around three months. The family, however, did not submit a complaint to the institute during that period.

The FIR has been registered under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, among other sections.

According to the family and some students, institute officials removed Sahil from the examination hall on the day of the incident and threatened him with suspension.

IIT-Bombay has disputed that account, saying no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against Sahil. The institute said officials instead counselled him and assured him that the examination-related incident would not affect his academic career.

The institute has also rejected allegations of caste-based discrimination. IIT-Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare said caste-related information concerning students is kept confidential and is not accessible to faculty members or administrators.

The institute’s SC/ST cell also said it had not received any complaint from Sahil alleging caste-based discrimination.

The Crime Branch investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death, the examination incident and the allegations raised by his family. It will also look into the roles of the individuals named in the FIR as the police continue their investigation.