IIT Bombay Student Suicide Probe Names Several Accused
IIT Bombay Student Suicide Probe Names Several Accused
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Hostel mates became concerned after Wakode did not respond from his room and alerted institute authorities, who then informed police. Reports said he was found hanging from the room’s ceiling fan.
2
Wakode’s parents, who are from Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, reached the campus; his father reportedly said he would bring his son’s body to IIT Bombay and refuse to leave until those responsible were arrested.
3
The family alleged that casteism and “institutional torture” were involved and maintained that Wakode would not have taken such an extreme step; his mother said she would file a complaint seeking justice.
4
IIT Bombay said it was extending support to Wakode’s friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by his death.
A second-year IIT Bombay student, Sahil Ravindra Wakode, 22, was found dead in his hostel room on Friday evening, hours after being caught using a mobile phone to upload an examination paper to ChatGPT. Daily Hunt reported that he was found hanging from the ceiling fan in Hostel Number 4. Mumbai Police registered an abetment-of-suicide case and named several individuals as accused, while his parents alleged caste-based discrimination and institutional harassment led to his death.
The case has now been transferred to Mumbai's Crime Branch for investigation. India Today reported that police invoked the SC/ST Act after Wakode's parents alleged caste discrimination. This marks the third student suicide at IIT Bombay in seven months, prompting hundreds of students to protest on campus demanding transparency and a full inquiry into the circumstances.
The Incident and Its Immediate Aftermath
Wakode was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during an examination to upload a paper to ChatGPT for answers. Free Press Journal reported that hostel mates became concerned after Wakode did not respond from his room and alerted institute authorities, who then informed police. His parents, from Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, rushed to the IIT Bombay campus in Powai after learning of his death.
Wakode's father reportedly said he would bring his son's body to IIT Bombay and refuse to leave until those responsible were arrested. NDTV reported that no suicide note was found at the scene, and a post-mortem was ordered. The institute said it was extending support to Wakode's friends, classmates, and faculty members affected by his death.
Parents Blame Caste Discrimination and Institutional Pressure
Wakode's family rejected the idea that their son would take his own life and instead pointed to alleged harassment. NDTV quoted his mother saying, 'He was harassed, killed.' She filed a complaint seeking justice. The family alleged that casteism and institutional torture were involved in the lead-up to his death.
Free Press Journal reported that Wakode's father accused Professor Suryanarayan Dulla of subjecting his son to caste-based harassment over recent months. Police invoked provisions of the SC/ST Act in response to the family's allegations. The investigation will examine these claims from all angles according to Mumbai authorities.
IIT Bombay's Response and Student Protests
IIT Bombay stated that no disciplinary action had been initiated against Wakode. The institute said faculty members had counseled him and assured him the incident would not affect his academic career. However, IBTimes reported that Mumbai Police lodged an FIR against all individuals connected to the death related to the exam incident.
Hundreds of students protested on campus demanding transparency and a complete inquiry. This is the third student suicide at IIT Bombay in seven months, raising concerns about mental health support and institutional practices. Students called for accountability and systemic changes to prevent future tragedies.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
15
Articles
9
Reach
24
A
AnonymousAuthor
