Stories
IIT-Bombay Student's Family Demands CBI Probe, Alleges Caste Discrimination
- •The family of deceased IIT-Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode demands a CBI inquiry into his alleged suicide, seeking a thorough investigation and action against those responsible.
- •Sahil's uncle questioned why all students who have died so far belonged to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, alleging caste-based harassment.
- •Sahil's aunt stated that he told his father about caste-based discrimination shortly before his death and urged for strict punishment for those found guilty.
- •The family demands full details, including CCTV footage, phone, and laptop data, without tampering, and alleges a major conspiracy involving more than one professor and the institute's director.
- •IIT Bombay initially alleged Sahil was caught cheating but later retracted the statement; Sahil's father accused a professor of casteist slurs.
Key Questions Answered
Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT-Bombay, died by suicide in his hostel room on Friday, September 18, 2026, hours after he was caught using a mobile phone during an examination. The institute initially stated he uploaded a question paper to ChatGPT, though his family has raised serious concerns regarding the circumstances.
Sahil's family has alleged that he faced severe caste-based discrimination and mental harassment prior to his death, claiming a teacher hurled caste-based slurs and threatened him. They have demanded a CBI probe, full access to CCTV footage, his mobile phone, and laptop without tampering, and accountability from higher administration officials including the director.
The investigation into Sahil Wakode's death has been transferred from the Powai Police to the Mumbai Crime Branch. An FIR has been registered following complaints against teacher Suryanarayan Dulla and other institute authorities amid sustained student protests on campus demanding justice and institutional accountability.
