Sahil Wakode death: Crime Branch records over 40 statements as parents allege caste discrimination at IIT Bombay

Sahil Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year BTech student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay who died by suicide on Sept 18, had submitted a written apology to the institute after he was allegedly caught using ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.

He acknowledged that he had not prepared adequately for the paper, admitted his mistake and requested another chance, police said.

According to an official quoted by PTI, Wakode had explained in his written submission that he was unprepared for the examination and sought an opportunity to rectify his mistake.

The apology came after he was allegedly found using a mobile phone to access an artificial intelligence platform for answers during the examination.

Wakode was reportedly caught with the phone inside the examination hall on Sept 18. An earlier statement from IIT Bombay said he had used an AI platform to seek answers to examination questions. Hours after the incident, he was found hanging in his hostel room.

The student's death came to light when his hostel mates received no response from his room and alerted institute authorities. The authorities subsequently informed the police, and an investigation was launched into the circumstances surrounding his death.

IIT Bombay student death: What happened on September 18?

Wakode was a second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay when he allegedly accessed ChatGPT during his mid-semester examination on Sept 18. After the incident, he submitted a written apology acknowledging that he had not prepared well and requesting a second chance, according to police.

He was found hanging in his hostel room later that day, just hours after the examination incident. The circumstances surrounding the examination, the events that followed and the allegations made by his family are now part of the ongoing police investigation.

The Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating the case and has recorded statements from more than 40 people, including IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare and Professor Suryanarayana Doolla. The investigation is examining the circumstances of Wakode's death and the allegations raised by his parents.

The case has drawn attention to the events leading up to the student's death, including the examination incident and his family's claims of harassment and caste-based discrimination at the institute.

FIR against IIT Bombay professor over parents' allegations

Wakode's parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, have accused Professor Suryanarayana Doolla of harassing their son and subjecting him to caste-based discrimination. Doolla was invigilating the examination during which Wakode was allegedly caught using his mobile phone.

Wakode's father has alleged that the professor directed caste-based abuses at his son at the behest of IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare. These allegations have not been established, and the police investigation is ongoing.

Following a complaint by Wakode's parents, the Powai police station registered a first information report (FIR) against Doolla. The professor has been named as an accused in the abetment-to-suicide case.

Doolla has denied the allegations of harassment made by the student's parents in his statement to the police. The allegations of caste-based discrimination and the circumstances surrounding Wakode's death remain under investigation.

The Mumbai Crime Branch has questioned institute officials, students and other individuals as part of its inquiry. Statements have been recorded from more than 40 people, including Kedare and Doolla, as investigators seek to establish the sequence of events before the student's death.

IIT Bombay forms committee to investigate student's death

IIT Bombay had earlier constituted a 10-member committee to examine the circumstances that led to Wakode's death. The institute also sent Doolla on leave pending the inquiry and removed him from his administrative position as Dean of Administrative Affairs.

The internal inquiry is separate from the police investigation into the student's death and the allegations raised by his family.

The institute's committee was tasked with examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, while the Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating the case and recording statements from those connected with it.

Wakode's parents have continued to demand action against those they hold responsible for their son's death. They have alleged that he faced harassment and caste-based discrimination at IIT Bombay and have called for a thorough investigation into their claims.

Parents begin hunger strike seeking justice

On Sept 24, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode began an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, demanding justice for their son and a comprehensive investigation into the allegations against the institute and its officials.

The protest followed the student's death and the family's claims that he had faced harassment and caste-based discrimination. His parents have sought accountability and action against those they believe were responsible.

Wakode's death also triggered protests on the IIT Bombay campus. Students participating in the demonstrations emphasized that their protests were not intended to defend academic misconduct or justify the alleged use of unauthorized assistance during an examination.

Instead, the protesters called for institutional reforms and a broader examination of the academic and administrative environment at the institute. Their demands focused on the circumstances surrounding the student's death and the need to address the concerns raised by his family.

The police investigation remains underway, with the Mumbai Crime Branch examining statements from institute officials and others connected with the case.

The allegations against Doolla, including those of harassment and caste-based discrimination, have been denied by the professor and have yet to be established through the investigation.