Mumbai (Gurpreet Singh): The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode on Tuesday alleged that their son had told them he was facing caste-based humiliation and harassment at the institute and urged the Mumbai Police Crime Branch to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
Sahil’s parents made the allegations after visiting the Crime Branch office in Mumbai. They said they had faith in the investigation and sought action against anyone found responsible.
His mother, Sonali Wakode, said the allegations and circumstances mentioned in the FIR should be investigated fully and that the probe should be conducted fairly and in accordance with the law.
Sahil allegedly told parents about caste-based remarks
Sonali claimed that Sahil had told his family that he was being abused, humiliated and harassed because of his caste.
She alleged that Sahil had specifically named Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and claimed that the professor had made remarks contrasting his own caste with Sahil’s.
According to his mother, Sahil said the alleged treatment had continued for around three months.
Sonali also recalled meeting Sahil in his hostel room on September 13. She said he told them at the time that he was being subjected to torture and abuse.
The family said they had encouraged him to focus on his studies and tolerate the situation because of his academic future. Sonali said she now regretted giving him that advice.
Parents question cheating allegation
Sahil’s mother also questioned the institute’s initial claim that he had been caught using ChatGPT during an examination.
She said allegations of cheating should be supported by evidence and expressed concern over what she described as changes in IIT Bombay’s statements regarding the matter.
She urged investigators to examine whether the cheating allegations had an evidentiary basis and whether they had any connection with the issues mentioned in the FIR.
Father seeks arrests
Sahil’s father, Ravindra Wakode, said he believed the complete truth would emerge after those accused in the case were arrested.
Describing his son as a bright student, he pointed to Sahil’s performance in the JEE Advanced examination as an indication of his academic record.
The family has also demanded the immediate arrest of IIT Bombay Director Professor Shirish Kedare and Professor Doolla.
Crime Branch records parents’ statements
A senior Crime Branch official said the statements of Sahil’s parents had been recorded. Statements of IIT Bombay officials, including Professor Doolla, had not yet been recorded and they would be summoned for questioning, the official said.
Sahil, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging in his hostel room at the Powai campus on September 18 evening.
His death occurred hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination. The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation.
