Full Breakdown
Death of IIT Bombay Student Sahil Wakode: Investigation, Allegations, and Protests
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Sahil Wakode’s Death and Ongoing Investigation
On September 18 2026, Sahil Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year BTech student in Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay, died by suicide in his hostel room after leaving the mid-semester Thermodynamics exam. Police say he was confronted about alleged use of a mobile phone to access ChatGPT. The Crime Branch took over on September 19 2026 and has recorded statements from more than 25 witnesses, including students, faculty, and hostel staff. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from the exam hall, corridors and the dean’s office, and have sent Sahil’s locked phone to the Kalina Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis.
Institutional and Social Background
Sahil’s parents allege caste-based discrimination and filed an FIR under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act naming Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, the invigilating faculty member, as an alleged abettor. IIT Bombay denied the discrimination claim but placed Doolla on leave pending investigation. The institute initially stated that Sahil had been caught uploading the exam paper to ChatGPT; the statement was later retracted with an apology for premature characterization.
Data and Evidence Collected
- Witness statements: Over 25 individuals have been interviewed.
- CCTV footage: Camera feeds from the exam hall, corridors and dean’s office have been seized for forensic certification.
- Phone forensics: Sahil’s iPhone is locked; experts are attempting to retrieve digital logs, possibly with assistance from Apple and WhatsApp.
- Missed-call notifications: Visible on the locked screen, being examined to establish a post-exam communication timeline.
Official Statements and Responses
- IIT Bombay: Retracted its initial claim about ChatGPT use and apologized for “characterising” events before the investigation concluded.
- Crime Branch: Confirmed the investigation is ongoing; Doolla’s statement has not yet been recorded; digital and video evidence are being analyzed.
- Union Minister Ramdas Athawale: Called for a thorough investigation.
- Professor Suryanarayana Doolla: Placed on leave and relieved of duties; formal statement pending.
On-the-Ground Protests
The Wakode family’s hunger strike on September 28 2026 drew support from local politicians, including Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad, and student groups. IIT Bombay students maintain a “Justice Corner” sit-in, demanding a transparent inquiry and a reconstituted committee with independent members and greater SC/ST representation. The family reports no contact from the institute-appointed 10-member inquiry panel, prompting further demonstrations.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
- Cheating allegation: IIT Bombay’s claim that Sahil uploaded the paper to ChatGPT has not been independently verified; a low-resolution CCTV clip circulated online remains unauthenticated.
- Caste-discrimination claim: The FIR alleges harassment by Doolla, but no corroborating evidence has emerged.
- Procedural adherence: IIT Bombay’s misconduct rules require an invigilator’s report to the Departmental Academic Disciplinary Action Committee and a two-day response window for the student; neither report nor response is publicly documented.
Verbatim Quote
- “I do not care, even if I get arrested. My son should get justice constitutionally. This is the state of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Phule, Shahu and Ambedkar. I will start my sit-in protest at Azad Maidan. I will continue my fight for justice.” — Earlier