Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has spoken to the parents of Sahil Wakode, an IIT Bombay student who died on September 18, and assured them of his support in their efforts to seek justice for their son. Party sources said Gandhi expressed solidarity with the family during a video call.
The call reportedly lasted around 17 minutes and took place while Sahil’s parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, were travelling to Mumbai from Washim district. Gandhi told the family that he would extend all possible assistance to them, according to party sources. Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib and Maharashtra Youth Congress leader Shivraj More were also present during the conversation.
Sahil’s parents have announced plans to begin an indefinite hunger strike outside the main gate of IIT Bombay from 11 a.m. on September 24. The family has been demanding action and a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding their son’s death.
Sahil, a second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay, was found dead in his hostel room on September 18. His death occurred after an examination earlier that day during which he was reportedly stopped by an invigilator after being suspected of using a mobile phone. IIT Bombay had earlier said that he was allegedly using ChatGPT during the examination. The institute later said that it was inappropriate to draw conclusions about the circumstances surrounding his death before an investigation was completed.
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is currently investigating the case. Officers are examining CCTV footage, digital evidence and the movements of Sahil before and after he left the examination hall. Police are also looking into allegations made by his family regarding harassment and caste-based discrimination. These allegations have not yet been established by the investigation.
Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was the invigilator during the examination, has come under scrutiny in connection with the case. IIT Bombay’s Board of Governors has asked him to go on leave and has formed a 10-member committee to examine the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death. The committee has been asked to submit its report within a week.
At the same time, the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has publicly supported Professor Doolla and said that he was carrying out his responsibilities as an invigilator. The forum has also said that he should not be judged before the investigation is completed.
CCTV footage from the examination hall has also emerged. The footage reportedly shows Sahil seated in the examination hall before Professor Doolla approaches him. He is then seen being questioned and leaving the examination hall. The Mumbai Crime Branch is examining the footage as part of its effort to reconstruct the events of September 18.
The case has led to protests at IIT Bombay, with students raising demands for an independent investigation and changes to student welfare and grievance-handling systems. The investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch remains ongoing, and authorities have not yet established the full circumstances that led to Sahil’s death.