Full Breakdown
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay Student Suicide Triggers Caste-Abuse Allegations and Police FIR
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Incident
On September 19, 2026, Mumbai police booked IIT Bombay faculty member Suryanarayan Dulla under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and for abetment to suicide. The charge followed the death of Sahil Wakode, a 20-year-old second-year Energy Science and Engineering student, whose body was found hanging in Hostel 4 on September 18, 2026. The institute said Wakode was caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester exam and had uploaded the question paper to an AI platform to obtain answers.
Background & Context
The incident is the third student suicide reported at IIT Bombay in the past seven months, with earlier deaths in February and July. Students and faculty have repeatedly raised concerns about mental-health pressures on campus.
Data & Statistics
- Three student suicides have been reported at IIT Bombay this year.
- More than 400 students participated in protests after the September incident.
- The institute’s SC/ST cell noted that no formal complaint regarding caste-based discrimination had been lodged by the deceased.
Official Statements & Responses
- “The police have registered a case and the matter is under investigation. IIT-Bombay will cooperate fully with the authorities and request everyone to respect the family’s privacy. We ask that people refrain from speculation as the investigation proceeds.” — IIT-Bombay spokesperson
- Director Shireesh B.
- Mumbai police registered an FIR naming Professor Dulla and “other senior officials” on charges of abetment to suicide and violations of the SC/ST Act, and transferred the investigation to the crime branch.
Criticism & Opposition
- Ravindra Wakode, the father, demanded that “the accused persons be arrested” before performing final rites and called for a “special public prosecutor” and a speedy trial.
- The parents alleged that their son had been repeatedly harassed with casteist remarks for three months and threatened with suspension that could have forced him to vacate his hostel.
- Student protesters, numbering over 400, called for the resignation of Director Kedare and demanded greater transparency and mental-health support.
On-the-Ground Reports
Students gathered at the main gate and staged a candlelight march, chanting for accountability. The protests continued through the weekend, with participants urging the administration to address systemic stressors.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Disciplinary Action: The institute maintains that no disciplinary action was taken, while protesters assert that Wakode was threatened with a one-year suspension.
- Caste-Based Harassment: The father’s FIR alleges systematic casteist abuse by Professor Dulla; the director and the SC/ST cell deny any such complaint or evidence.
- Formal Complaint: The SC/ST cell reports no complaint was filed by the student, yet the FIR cites caste-based harassment as a central grievance.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I will not conduct the final rites of my son till the accused persons are arrested,” — Ravindra Wakode
- “It was a regular chat. He told us he was preparing for the exam. He was not at all stressed,” — Sonali
What’s Next
The crime branch will conduct a fast-track investigation, and the family’s lawyer has asked the state to oppose any anticipatory bail for the accused while seeking compensation under the SC/ST Act. IIT Bombay has pledged to extend psychological support to students and to review its exam-monitoring policies, pending the police probe.