IIT Bombay Student Suicide: Father alleges casteist mocking by professor, administration

YAVATMAL: The father of the 22-year-old Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay student who died by suicide has alleged that his only son was subjected to relentless caste-based mocking and torture by a professor and the administration. Sahil Ravindra Wakode (22), a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room on IIT Bombay's Powai campus on Friday evening, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination, according to officials.

Sahil's last rites were conducted at his hometown in Yavatmal on Sunday. Speaking to a news channel, Ravindra Wakode said that Sahil was brought up in extreme poverty and had managed to reach the premier institute. IIT faculty members and officials from the administration had discriminated against Sahil on caste lines and falsely targeted him, he alleged, demanding a probe into their role in his son's death.

The Wakodes lodged a police complaint, following which the police on Saturday registered an FIR on charges of abetment of suicide under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Also read IIT Bombay removes professor Doolla from Dean's post, apologises over claims on Wakode's death

A professor has been named an accused in the case, which is being investigated by the Crime Branch. Ravindra Wakode asserted that his son was strong and was not someone who could commit suicide.

"The IIT Bombay administration tortured my son and discriminated against him on caste lines," he claimed. Wakode alleged that his son would talk about a professor who would call him lower caste, torture and mock him with false accusations. The concerned professor, whom he didn't identify, was supported by the institute's director, he claimed. IIT Bombay on Monday said Prof Suryanarayana Doolla has been removed from the post of Dean (student affairs) with immediate effect.

If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts or tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling 9820466726 or visiting AASRA’s official website or can call iCALL on 9152987821. Here are some more helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.