IIT-Bombay student death: Parents say he faced caste abuse, demand arrest of faculty member

Days after a 22-year-old student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Mumbai was found dead in his hostel room, his parents have demanded the arrest of a faculty member and director of the institute, alleging that their son was threatened and subjected to caste abuse.

Sahil Wakode, a second-year Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) student in the Department of Energy Sciences and Engineering, was found dead on Friday (September 18, 2026). The following day, Powai police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under charges including abetment of suicide and sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The FIR, filed on the basis of a complaint by the student’s father Ravindra Wakode, named faculty member Suryanarayan Doolla. Subsequently, the investigation was handed over to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch.

At a press conference on Tuesday (September 22, 2026), Mr Wakode said his son told him that Mr Doolla had allegedly used casteist slurs against him for three months and that a faculty member had threatened to implicate him in false cases. According to his father, his son further claimed that the professor acted on the instructions of the director of the institute.

The student’s mother, Sonali Wakode, said that on September 18, she received a call from the IIT and asked her to come to the institute. After some time, the Powai police called and told her that her son had died by suicide. The police asked her to come to Mumbai and the family arrived there on the morning of September 19, said Ms Wakode, a teacher.

The family lives in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra. Sahil Wakode studied up to Class 12 in Yavatmal before joining the Department of Energy Sciences at IIT-Bombay.

Visit on September 13

According to Ms Wakode, the family visited her son on September 13 when he told them about the alleged harassment he was facing.

“Please give justice to my son. Please ensure justice for the atrocities committed on him. Why are Dalit students committing suicide? We gave him psychological support and told him, ‘Your future is bright son, just hang in there.’ That was our fault. If we had taken him away that day, my child would be alive today,” she said.

She expressed confidence that the crime branch will ensure that justice is served. She also said that during their visit, her son told them that he was being “tortured” and was facing abuse from casteists. “We offered him moral support. That was a mistake on our part. I sincerely request you to ensure that my child gets justice,” she said.

The administration of the institution said that Sahil Wakode was caught using ChatGPT during the investigation. CCTV footage shows the student being taken out of the classroom where the exam was taking place. The footage shows Mr. Doolla asking him a few questions and then taking him aside, away from the other students. Thereafter, Wakode was spotted outside the examination hall and subsequently entered his hostel around 1.25 pm. He was later found dead in his room.

On Monday (September 21, 2026), a crime police team searched the Wakode hostel room and conducted a panchnama. Officials said no note was obtained and no one was subpoenaed for the investigation. In the initial days of the investigation, the crime police team will collect documents from the Powai police where the FIR was initially registered, the official said, adding that the team has seized CCTV footage and other materials.

Protests and detentions

Meanwhile, police on Tuesday detained dozens of activists belonging to the Republican Party of India (A) and Bharat Mukti Morcha after they staged a protest outside the main gate of IIT-Bombay over Wakode’s death, an official said. Carrying placards and shouting slogans, the protesters demanded justice for the deceased student and demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

A senior police officer said that the Bharat Mukti Morcha protesters gathered outside the main gate of the campus without permission and were immediately taken away, remanded in custody and brought to the Powai police station for further legal action. Soon after, Republican Party of India (A) workers led by Ramdas Athawale also gathered near the gate, shouting slogans in support of Wakode. Police personnel were quickly moved to clear the area and nab them as well, the officer said.

(Help to overcome suicidal thoughts is available on the state health line 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha on the suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).

Published – 22 Sep 2026 17:19 IST