The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode have begun an indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai, seeking justice for their son and action against those they allege tormented him.
Sahil, a 22-year-old second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay, died by suicide on September 18. His death came hours after an incident during a mid-semester examination, where he was allegedly found with a mobile phone inside the examination hall.
According to reports, CCTV footage from the examination hall shows Sahil looking at a mobile phone before an invigilator approached him and asked him to leave the hall. The Mumbai Crime Branch is currently investigating the sequence of events and examining CCTV footage from the exam hall, campus and hostel.
Sahil’s parents have alleged that their son faced caste-based discrimination and harassment at the institute. His father, Ravindra Wakode, has also alleged that Sahil had told him about repeated caste-related harassment. These allegations are part of the ongoing investigation and have not been established. IIT Bombay has denied allegations of caste-based discrimination and said that no such complaint had been submitted by Sahil to its SC-ST cell or administration.
The family had earlier approached the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and submitted their demands. They are now seeking action against the people they hold responsible for allegedly tormenting their son.
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The protest has also faced a dispute over its location. Sahil’s parents wanted to protest outside the main gate of IIT Bombay, while Mumbai Police directed them to Azad Maidan, where permission was granted for the protest. The family has continued to insist on protesting at the institute gate.
Meanwhile, IIT Bombay has sent Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was the invigilator during the examination, on leave. The institute has also formed a 10-member panel to examine the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death.
The Mumbai Crime Branch is questioning people connected to the case and examining available evidence to understand what happened after Sahil left the examination hall.
With the investigation still underway, Sahil’s parents are demanding answers and action. The allegations of harassment and discrimination remain part of the probe, while the authorities continue to examine the circumstances that led to the death of the 22-year-old student.