Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The parents of IIT Bombay BTech student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide on September 18, have insisted on holding their protest outside the institute’s main gate despite Mumbai Police asking them to shift it to Azad Maidan. Police have granted permission for the protest at the designated venue, but the family remains firm on demonstrating outside IIT Bombay, demanding action in connection with their son’s death.
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The latest standoff comes amid an ongoing Mumbai Crime Branch investigation and an internal IIT Bombay inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death. The 22-year-old second-year BTech student was found dead in his hostel room, hours after an incident during a mid-semester examination.
Fresh CCTV footage from the examination hall shows Sahil being questioned during the exam and subsequently leaving the hall between around 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm. Investigators are also examining CCTV footage from the IIT Bombay campus and hostel to trace his movements.
WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE EXAM?
Sahil was appearing for a mid-semester examination when he was questioned and taken out of the examination hall. IIT Bombay had initially said that he was found using a mobile phone during the exam and had allegedly uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.
The institute later apologised for its communication, saying it was inappropriate to characterise the circumstances preceding Sahil’s death before an investigation had established the facts.
The Crime Branch is now examining the examination-hall footage along with CCTV recordings from the campus and hostel, as well as statements and other evidence, to establish the sequence of events leading up to Sahil’s death.
FAMILY ALLEGES CASTE-BASED HARASSMENT
Sahil’s family has alleged that he faced caste-based harassment, pressure and threats on campus. His father has demanded the arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare, alleging that his son had faced caste-related remarks and pressure before his death.
These allegations are part of the ongoing investigation and have not been established. IIT Bombay has denied caste-based discrimination and has said that no such complaint had been submitted by Sahil to its SC/ST cell or administration.
Mumbai Police registered an FIR following the family’s complaint, including provisions related to abetment to suicide and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case was subsequently transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch.
PROFESSOR DOOLLA SENT ON LEAVE
Amid the investigation, IIT Bombay sent Professor Suryanarayana Doolla on leave and constituted a 10-member panel to examine the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death. The panel is headed by Professor Ramesh Venkateswaran, Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Palakkad, and is expected to submit its report within a week.
The Mumbai Crime Branch has also summoned Doolla for questioning and has been recording statements as part of its investigation.
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has defended Doolla, saying he was performing his duties as an invigilator during the examination. The forum has maintained that he followed the prescribed procedure after allegedly detecting academic malpractice.
IIT BOMBAY STUDENTS’ PROTEST AND 18-POINT CHARTER
Sahil’s death triggered protests on the IIT Bombay campus, with students demanding an independent investigation, action against Doolla, greater transparency in disciplinary proceedings and changes to student welfare mechanisms.
After three days of protests, IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare signed an 18-point charter of demands submitted by students. The demands included an independent investigation into Sahil’s death, reforms to disciplinary procedures, greater student representation, improved counselling and mental-health services, faculty sensitisation and a task force involving students, faculty members, mental-health professionals and external experts.
Students also sought an interim report by September 30 and a final report by October 15, along with greater transparency in the Disciplinary Action Committee process and reforms to student grievance and welfare systems.
IIT BOMBAY POSTPONES MID-SEMESTER EXAMS
Meanwhile, IIT Bombay has postponed its mid-semester examinations scheduled for September 26 and 27 to October 10 and 11. The institute has said that the same timetable will be followed, meaning only the examination dates have been changed. The decision comes amid continuing developments following Sahil’s death, campus protests and the ongoing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the case.
The Mumbai Crime Branch and IIT Bombay’s internal panel are continuing to examine CCTV footage, statements and other evidence. The circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death remain under investigation.
(With inputs from Devyesh Singh)
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
