‘He told us about casteism, torture,’ says mother of IIT Bombay student

The mother of a 20-year-old IIT Bombay student who died by suicide last week Tuesday said her son had told his family that he was facing “torture” and casteist slurs at the institute, as she sought justice and expressed regret that the family had not brought him home earlier.

The second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering was found dead in his hostel room on September 18, hours after he was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination. His death has triggered protests at the Powai campus and an investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch. An FIR has been registered against institute officials, including Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, under provisions relating to abetment of suicide and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The allegations are under investigation.

Family alleges discrimination

The student’s mother said he had previously spoken to his family about the treatment he allegedly faced on campus. “Sahil had informed us that he was facing torture and casteist slurs,” she said, adding that the family had repeatedly encouraged him by telling him that his future would improve.

She said the family now regretted not taking him home when he had spoken about his difficulties. The mother said she had faith in the administration and the Constitution and believed her son would get justice.

His father also questioned the focus on the allegation that his son had cheated during an examination on the day of his death, claiming it was being used to divert attention from the family’s allegations. He demanded that those named in the case be questioned and arrested.

The father described his son as a bright student and pointed to his performance in the JEE Advanced examination. The family had earlier alleged that he faced caste-based discrimination and pressure at IIT Bombay and initially declined to claim his body until they were assured of a thorough investigation.

Professor removed from deanship

Professor Doolla was invigilating the mid-semester examination on September 18 when the student was allegedly found using a mobile phone. IIT Bombay had initially said the student uploaded the examination question paper to an artificial intelligence platform to seek answers. No suicide note was found, according to police.

Following protests, IIT Bombay removed Doolla from his deanship with immediate effect. The institute also apologised for its initial statement concerning the circumstances preceding the student’s death, saying it was inappropriate to comment on a matter that was under investigation.

The institute has said it will review its examination punishment rules and strengthen its grievance redressal mechanism. Students have raised concerns over academic penalties, student welfare, mental health support and the mechanism for dealing with discrimination complaints.

At the same time, sections of IIT Bombay’s faculty and students have come out in support of Doolla and cautioned against drawing conclusions before the investigation is completed. The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum said he had followed the institute’s approved examination procedure while reporting the alleged use of a phone during the examination.

Crime Branch probe underway

The investigation has been transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch and is being supervised by an Assistant Commissioner of Police-rank officer.

The institute’s SC/ST Students and Staff Cell has said it had not received a complaint of caste discrimination from the student before his death. The family’s allegations, the events surrounding the examination and the role of those named in the FIR are now part of the police investigation. Heavy police security has also been deployed around the IIT Bombay campus amid continuing protests and demands for accountability.