IIT Bombay Student Suicide: Sahil Wakode's parents move HC seeking CBI, SIT probe

Mumbai: The parents of Sahil Wakode, an IIT student who ended his life on September 18, have moved Bombay High Court seeking a fair and independent investigation into his death by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The plea filed by Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, through advocate Hitendra Gandhi, said their 20-year-old son had committed suicide after facing caste-based humiliation.

The plea is likely to be mentioned on Monday. The petition alleged that police had failed to probe the case with the seriousness it merits and, hence, sought the probe to be monitored by a retired judge. On their complaint, Powai police had earlier registered a case of abetment of suicide and other offences.

Parents seek CCTV footage

The petition has also sought a direction to the institution to secure all CCTV footage of that day and also to ensure no one influences any student or faculty who witnessed the events of the day their son killed himself. Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, died on September 18.

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His parents have alleged that some faculty members and the invigilator had made certain casteist remarks against Sahil, who then took the extreme step of killing himself. In the plea, the parents said Sahil, on being allotted a room at IIT, wished to hang a portrait of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar but was advised against it by his roommates who told him he could face caste-based discrimination.

When Sahil informed his parents, they too advised him not to hang the photograph in order to avoid any conflict, the plea said. It further alleged that Sahil had been facing caste-based remarks from Professor Surayanarayan Doolla, who was also the invigilator during the exam on September 18.

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.