Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The father of IIT Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode, who was found dead in his hostel room, has alleged that a professor harassed his son with “casteist remarks” for three months before his death. Based on the complaint, Mumbai police have invoked the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the case.
Wakode was found dead in his hostel room on the IIT Bombay campus in Powai on Friday evening.
advertisement
An IIT Bombay senior official denied any caste-based discrimination on campus, saying that caste-related information of every student is completely hidden.
DCP Dutt Nalavade said several people, including Professor Suryanarayana Doolla from the Energy Science department, who was the invigilator during the examination in which Wakode was caught using a mobile phone, are named in a complaint filed by Wakode’s father and that the case would be investigated from all angles.
Police initially registered an accidental death report and said no suicide note was found.
SAHIL WAS CAUGHT USING CHATGPT DURING EXAM
Wakode’s death came hours after he was found using a mobile phone during an examination.
IIT Bombay said Wakode had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers. The institute maintained that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him.
According to IIT Bombay, the instructor and the Head of the Department spoke to Wakode, counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.
Wakode later returned to his hostel room. When he did not respond, his hostel mates alerted the authorities, who informed the authorities, who informed the police.
STUDENTS DISPUTE IIT BOMBAY’S ACCOUNT
Wakode’s death triggered protests on the IIT Bombay campus, with students demanding a transparent inquiry.
The protesting students alleged that Wakode had been threatened with suspension after he was caught using his phone during the examination. They also sought the resignation of IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare.
IIT Bombay denied that any disciplinary proceedings had been initiated and reiterated that Wakode had been told the examination incident would not affect his academic career.
The institute also said it was extending support to Wakode’s friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by his death.
“The circumstances surrounding the death are being looked into by the appropriate authorities,” IIT Bombay said.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
