IIT Bombay student’s parents begin hunger strike, seek action over alleged caste harassment

The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide last week, Thursday began an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, demanding action against those they allege subjected their son to caste-based discrimination and harassment at the institute. The protest came as the Mumbai Police Crime Branch continued its investigation into the 22-year-old second-year BTech student’s death, while IIT Bombay formed a high-level committee to examine the circumstances surrounding it.

Sahil’s father Ravindra Wakode said those responsible for allegedly tormenting his son should be arrested and claimed the student had repeatedly spoken to his family about facing caste discrimination at the institute. The allegations are under investigation and have not been established, while IIT Bombay has disputed claims that Sahil was subjected to caste-based discrimination and harassment.

Parents seek speedy probe

Ravindra and his wife Sonali met National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Kishor Makwana in Mumbai and submitted a memorandum seeking a speedy investigation into their son’s death. “Those who tortured my son should be put behind bars. He had told us that he repeatedly faced caste discrimination at the institute,” Ravindra said as the family pressed for action.

The family had earlier demanded the arrest of IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare and faculty member Suryanarayana Doolla, who has been named in an FIR alleging abetment to suicide on grounds of caste discrimination. Doolla has since been sent on leave by the institute to facilitate what IIT Bombay said should be an impartial investigation, while the institute has also constituted a 10-member committee to examine the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death.

The parents had initially planned to hold their hunger strike outside the IIT Bombay campus in Powai. Mumbai Police, however, permitted the protest at Azad Maidan, and Ravindra was detained in Bhandup Thursday while travelling towards the institute before the family eventually began its protest at the designated venue.

Family alleges they were taken away

The hunger strike followed another controversy after Sahil’s parents alleged they were taken out of Mumbai against their wishes in a private vehicle early Wednesday, hours before they had planned to begin their protest. The family said they had repeatedly made clear that they wanted to remain in Mumbai, but were driven towards Washim district before getting out of the vehicle near Karanja Lad and later returning to the city.

According to the family and their lawyer, men in plain clothes had asked them to move into another vehicle after they left the IIT Bombay campus. The family alleged that they were told they were being taken home despite saying they wanted to stay in Mumbai, while there was no immediate police response to the allegation when it was first raised.

Crime Branch examines evidence

The Crime Branch is examining CCTV footage from the examination hall, the campus and Sahil’s hostel as it attempts to reconstruct his movements before his death on September 18. Investigators have also taken possession of his mobile phone and are gathering statements and electronic evidence, including material that could help establish whether he had previously complained about alleged discrimination.

CCTV footage from the examination hall showed Sahil being approached by a professor after he was allegedly seen looking at a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination. IIT Bombay had initially issued a communication referring to allegations that the student had used ChatGPT during the examination, but subsequently apologised for commenting on details that were still under investigation.

The institute said it regretted statements made in its earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death and acknowledged that the details remained subject to investigation. Police have also appealed against speculation and premature conclusions while the Crime Branch inquiry remains underway.

Campus protests continue

Sahil’s death has triggered protests at IIT Bombay, with students demanding an external investigation, greater transparency in disciplinary proceedings and stronger mechanisms to address discrimination and student welfare. Congress and National Students’ Union of India workers also demonstrated outside the Powai campus Thursday, while security around the institute was tightened.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to Sahil’s parents through a video call Thursday and assured them of support in their effort to seek justice. His intervention came as the family returned to Mumbai to continue its protest and as the case increasingly drew attention from political organisations and student groups.

IIT Bombay has meanwhile postponed mid-semester examinations scheduled for September 26 and 27 to October 10 and 11 amid the continuing developments on campus. Both the Crime Branch investigation and the institute’s internal inquiry are now expected to examine the sequence of events before Sahil’s death as well as the family’s allegations of caste-based harassment.