IIT student death: Police question 20 as probe widens
Mumbai police have questioned around 20 people, including students and institute employees, as part of their investigation into the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode.
Investigators are also trying to retrieve call records and messages from Wakode’s mobile phone. The 22-year-old Energy Science and Engineering student was found dead in his hostel room on September 18 after returning there directly from an examination.
According to preliminary information, Wakode did not leave his room for several hours. When the room was opened at around 7 pm, he was found dead.
Those questioned include students who were present in the examination hall, invigilators and administrative personnel. Police are attempting to establish a detailed timeline of the events preceding his death.
Investigators said the phone was protected by a pattern lock, making immediate access to its contents difficult. Several missed-call notifications were reportedly visible, while forensic teams are working to gain access to the device.
IIT Bombay faculty member Suryanarayan Doolla, who has been named in an FIR alleging abetment to suicide linked to caste discrimination, has been placed on leave while the investigation continues.
Wakode’s parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, have begun a hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan. They have alleged that their son faced repeated caste-based discrimination at the institute and are seeking action against those they hold responsible.
The institute has also apologised twice over its earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death, including a reference to an allegation that he had been caught using ChatGPT during an examination.
CCTV footage from the examination hall has reportedly been aired by television channels. The footage shows Wakode’s movements before a professor approached him and escorted him away from the examination hall. Police have not publicly confirmed all details surrounding that episode.
Investigators are examining CCTV recordings and witness statements to piece together the sequence of events. The investigation remains underway.