The death by suicide of a second-year BTech student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has triggered protests on campus, with his family alleging that caste-based discrimination, harassment and mental torture played a role in his death.
The student, Sahil Wakode, was pursuing BTech in Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay. He died on September 18, hours after he was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination.
Sahil's mother has now said that her son had told the family that he was facing caste-based discrimination and what she described as torture at the institute.
"He had informed us that he was facing torture and casteist slurs," she said, according to PTI, adding that the family had reassured him that his future would be good. She also expressed regret that they did not take him back home when he had spoken about the difficulties he was facing.
Family alleges harassment
Sahil's father, Ravindra Wakode, has alleged that his son was subjected to caste-based remarks and harassment by a professor and others at the institute. Based on his complaint, Mumbai Police registered an FIR naming Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, along with others, under charges including abetment to suicide and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case has subsequently been transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch.
The family has alleged that the student had been facing such treatment for around three months before his death. His father has also questioned the circumstances surrounding the examination incident and demanded a thorough investigation.
The family has sought justice and has expressed faith in the administration and the Constitution.
What happened during the examination?
According to IIT Bombay's earlier account, Sahil was allegedly found with a mobile phone during the examination and had uploaded the question paper on ChatGPT to seek answers. The institute had initially said that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him.
Professor Doolla was reportedly the invigilator during the examination. His name subsequently figured in the FIR filed following the allegations made by Sahil's father.
The student's father has disputed aspects of the institute's account and alleged that references to the examination incident could divert attention from the circumstances surrounding his son's death.
IIT Bombay suspends professor from administrative post
Amid protests by students, IIT Bombay suspended Doolla from his administrative position. The institute's director, Shireesh B Kedare, said further action would follow the investigation.
The institute has also apologised for its initial statement concerning the circumstances of Sahil's death and agreed to review its examination punishment rules and strengthen its grievance-redressal mechanisms.
IIT Bombay has denied allegations of caste-based discrimination on campus. The institute's director said caste-related information of students is not available to faculty or administrators in a manner that would facilitate such discrimination and maintained that there was no caste-based discrimination in the case.
The campus has seen differing views over the circumstances leading to Sahil's death. While his family has alleged caste-based harassment, some students have questioned the caste angle and pointed instead to academic pressure and the demanding nature of the engineering programme.
Student protests and demands
Following Sahil's death, students launched protests at the IIT Bombay campus and submitted an 18-point charter of demands to the institute administration. Their demands include changes to examination and disciplinary procedures, stronger grievance-redressal mechanisms and greater attention to student welfare.
The institute has agreed to consider several of the demands and review its existing rules. Faculty members have also expressed support for Doolla, saying that he was carrying out his responsibilities as an examination invigilator according to institutional procedures.
The investigation will now determine the circumstances surrounding Sahil's death and examine the allegations made by his family. The competing claims made by the family, students and institute authorities remain subject to investigation.
