IIT Bombay Student Probe
Mumbai Crime Branch investigates IIT Bombay student death amid caste claims
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Key Points
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A close friend described Sahil Wakode as outgoing and deeply involved in campus life, particularly badminton, and said he had met Wakode for snacks just a few days before his death without noticing anything unusual. The friend also said Professor Doolla had reportedly opposed giving faculty access to students’ JEE ranks to help prevent harassment.
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Wakode’s father said he and his wife last saw their son on September 13, when they spent the day with him on the IIT Bombay campus. He expressed regret that they had advised Sahil to tolerate the alleged harassment because IIT was a prestigious institution and conditions might improve later.
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The Crime Branch said it is examining what happened both inside and outside the examination hall during the hours preceding Wakode’s death, rather than limiting the inquiry to the alleged phone-use incident.
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Mumbai Police said the case was formally transferred from Powai Police Station to the Crime Branch as DCB CID C.R. No. 124/2026 and is being supervised by the Crime Branch’s DCP Detection-I. Police also urged that information be taken only from official channels and warned against misinformation or premature conclusions.
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IIT Bombay Faculty Forum president Rajkumar Pant defended Doolla, saying he was known as helpful to students and had acted firmly according to rules; Pant said he saw no merit in the allegation. Separately, alumnus and activist Sudheendra Kulkarni called for withdrawal of the SC/ST Act case against Doolla and a national debate on reforming the law.
A 20-year-old Indian Institute of Technology Bombay student, Sahil Wakode, died by suicide on September 18 after allegedly being caught using a mobile phone during an examination. India Today reported that Professor Suryanarayana Doolla confronted Wakode in the exam hall, and hours later that evening, Wakode was found hanging in his hostel room. His family has alleged caste-based harassment and institutional pressure, naming Doolla and other officials and seeking their arrest.
The Mumbai Crime Branch is now investigating the death under an National Herald India reported Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Opposition, has spoken directly to Wakode's parents and assured them of support. The case has sparked wider debate about caste discrimination at elite Indian institutions and the mental health crisis facing students under academic pressure.
Exam Hall Confrontation Preceded Hours-Later Death
On September 18, invigilator Doolla allegedly spotted Wakode using a mobile phone during a mid-semester test. According to Free Press Journal, CCTV footage shows a 58-second interaction where Doolla approached Wakode, who handed over his phone and left the examination hall. Hours later that same evening, Wakode was discovered hanging in his hostel room.
Police are now forensically analyzing Wakode's encrypted phone to determine whether he used artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT during the exam. Mid-Day reported that the Crime Branch is examining all events both inside and outside the examination hall in the hours before his death, rather than focusing only on the alleged phone-use incident.
Family Claims Caste-Based Harassment and Institutional Neglect
Wakode's parents told police he said he was being targeted because of his caste. His father expressed deep regret, saying he and his wife had advised Sahil to tolerate the alleged harassment because IIT Bombay was prestigious and conditions might improve. Daijiworld reported that the family demanded immediate arrests of Doolla and other officials, and they plan peaceful protests to push for justice.
However, IIT Bombay's faculty forum and the institutional SC/ST cell countered that Wakode had never filed a formal discrimination complaint before his death. A close friend of Wakode also said he never mentioned experiencing caste discrimination during conversations with him, including a meeting days before his death where they shared snacks together.
Police Launch High-Level Investigation With Multiple Angles
The Mumbai Crime Branch assumed control of the case on September 23 and registered it as DCB CID C.R. No. 124/2026. India Today reported that the investigation is being supervised by the Crime Branch's Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection-I) and an Assistant Commissioner of Police. Police formally booked Doolla under laws addressing abetment of suicide and caste-based atrocities.
IIT Bombay removed Doolla from his administrative role as Dean of Administrative Affairs and placed him on leave. The institute also established a 10-member internal committee to investigate the death. Police have urged the public and media to avoid speculation and rely only on official channels as the inquiry continues.
Faculty Defends Doolla; Activists Debate Caste Law Application
Faculty Forum president Rajkumar Pant defended Doolla, describing him as helpful to students and firm in enforcing academic rules fairly. Pant said he saw no merit in allegations that Doolla acted with caste bias or that he targeted Wakode specifically for his background.
Prominent alumnus and activist Sudheendra Kulkarni called for withdrawing the SC/ST Act charges against Doolla, arguing the law should not be applied to academic invigilators enforcing institutional rules. Kulkarni also advocated for a national debate on reforming the atrocity law to prevent potential misuse against faculty members doing their jobs.
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