Full Breakdown
Investigation into IIT Bombay Student Sahil Wakode’s Suicide Expands Amid Cheating and Caste-Discrimination Allegations
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Suicide Following Exam Incident
On September 18, 22-year-old Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a second-year BTech student in Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay, was found hanging in his hostel room. Police say the death occurred hours after he was intercepted for allegedly using a mobile device to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester Thermodynamics exam.
Background & Context: Prior Student Suicides and Caste Allegations
Wakode’s death follows two earlier student suicides at IIT Bombay, including the 2023 case of Darshan Solanki, which also sparked claims of caste-based harassment. Parents of both students have alleged caste discrimination and filed FIRs naming faculty members for abetment.
Timeline of Key Developments
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept 18 | Wakode leaves the exam hall after being approached by Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla; later found dead. |
| Sept 19 | Mumbai Police Crime Branch takes over the investigation. |
| Sept 22 | Father Ravindra Wakode begins a sit-in protest at Azad Maidan, demanding arrests of Prof. Doolla and IIT Director Shireesh Kedare. |
| Sept 25 | Parents meet Crime Branch officials; Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale visits IIT Bombay. |
| Sept 28 | Hunger strike continues; media notes broader student protests on campus. |
Data & Statistics: Investigation Scope
- Police have recorded statements from 20 individuals, later rising to more than 25.
- CCTV footage from the exam hall and hostel corridors is being examined by the Kalina Forensic Science Laboratory.
- The suspect mobile device is secured with a pattern lock; forensic experts are attempting to access call logs and WhatsApp data.
Official Statements & Responses
- IIT Bombay denies caste-discrimination allegations and has issued apologies for earlier communications linking the death directly to the alleged ChatGPT incident.
- The Crime Branch reports that Wakode made phone calls after the exam, expressing regret over the copying incident and concern about his paper.
- Union Minister Ramdas Athawale urged a “thorough investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Criticism & Opposition
- Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad met the family and said repeated incidents at IIT Bombay raise questions about the institute’s accountability and student safeguards.
- Gaikwad alleged that right-wing groups have entered education, altering campus politics, and criticized what she described as “selective questioning” by the Crime Branch.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Father Ravindra Wakode maintains a hunger strike at Azad Maidan, stating he will continue until Prof. Doolla and Director Kedare are arrested.
- Students have organized candlelight marches and a “Justice Corner” sit-in on campus, demanding a reconstituted inquiry panel and greater transparency.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Sources differ on the exact nature of the exam misconduct: some describe a smartphone used to access ChatGPT, others refer to a hidden device under the thigh. No independent verification has been presented.
- The causal link between the alleged cheating, caste-discrimination claims, and the suicide remains unestablished; police have not confirmed whether either factor directly contributed to the death.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Repeated incidents involving students at IIT Bombay have raised questions about the institute’s accountability and the safeguards available to students.” — Varsha Gaikwad, Mumbai Congress president
- “My son should get justice constitutionally.” — Ravindra Wakode
The investigation remains ongoing, with forensic analysis of digital evidence and further witness testimony expected to shape the final conclusions.