Crime Branch takes over IIT Bombay student death probe; family alleges caste harassment, institute denies

Mumbai: Mumbai Crime Branch has taken over the probe into the suicide of a second-year IIT Bombay student.

On Friday, Sahil Wakode (20), a second-year student of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room, hours after he was caught using a mobile phone during an examination. Wakode had allegedly uploaded the examination paper on an AI platform to seek answers, the institute had said in its statement.

However, his family has registered a complaint alleging that their son was subjected to mental torture by a faculty member and caste-based harassment that "drove him to end his life". "... the paperwork has been handed over to the crime branch and an investigation is underway. The probe will ascertain if the suicide was due to him being caught during the exam or if he was subjected to caste-based harassment as alleged," a senior police officer told ET.


Also read: IIT Bombay student dies by suicide: 22-year-old allegedly uploaded exam paper to ChatGPT after being caught using phone

According to the complaint reviewed by ET, Sahil had told his father that faculty member Suryanarayana Doolla had allegedly been abusing him with caste-related slurs and harassing him for around three months. The father has alleged that the faculty member was acting on the instructions of senior officials. An FIR has been filed against Doolla and unknown senior officials under section 108 of BNS pertaining to abetment of suicide and certain sections of the Prevention of Atrocities Act.

Ravindra Chavan Wakode said his son had expressed apprehension that he could be implicated in a minor matter. Ravindra Wakode has alleged that the faculty member's conduct amounted to mental harassment and drove his son to take the extreme step.

IIT Bombay, in a statement issued on Saturday, said the student had died by suicide on the previous evening. The institute said earlier that day, during an examination, the student was found using a mobile phone in the exam hall and had uploaded the examination question paper on ChatGPT to seek answers. The institute said no disciplinary action had been initiated against the student. According to its statement, the matter was discussed with him by the instructor, faculty adviser and Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career. The student subsequently returned to his hostel room and was later found dead there, the institute said. The institute said the circumstances surrounding the death were being looked into by the appropriate authorities.

When contacted, IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh Kedare denied allegations of caste-based discrimination on the campus. "There is absolutely no substance in this allegation," Kedare said, adding that the institute had a policy of non-discrimination. Kedare said, so far, no complaint of caste-based discrimination by Sahil had come to his knowledge during the three months referred to by the family in their allegations. "... I will hold a discussion with students on Monday regarding the incident and if required, would tender my resignation," he told ET.