MUMBAI: No member of the inquiry panel constituted by IIT Bombay to probe the death of student Sahil Wakode has reached out to his family yet, his parents said on Monday as they continued their hunger strike at Azad Maidan demanding the arrest of Prof Suryanarayana Doolla.The family also said it had not received any update from police on the status of the investigation.Wakode’s parents have been on hunger strike since Monday morning and said they would continue the protest until Doolla, who has been named in the FIR alleging caste discrimination and abetment to suicide, is arrested.A medical team visited the protest site and checked the parents’ vital signs.Congress leader and MP Varsha Gaikwad also visited Azad Maidan to meet Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, who are protesting over their son’s death.
Family says inquiry panel yet to contact them
The IIT Bombay board had constituted a 10-member committee to inquire into the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death.The committee has sought a one-week extension to complete its probe, and the institute’s board of governors has granted the request.The family, however, said no member of the panel had contacted them so far.IIT Bombay students had earlier demanded that the committee be reconstituted, alleging that some members had expressed support for Doolla.Students held a candlelight march on Friday night and sought a panel comprising people with no current association with the institute.
Parents demand Doolla’s arrest
Doolla, a faculty member named in the police FIR alleging caste discrimination and abetment to suicide, has been sent on leave to facilitate an impartial probe.Wakode’s parents have alleged that their son faced caste discrimination at IIT Bombay and have demanded action against those they hold responsible for his death.Earlier, Ravindra Wakode had said, “I do not care, even if I get arrested. My son should get justice constitutionally. This is the state of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Phule, Shahu and Ambedkar. I will start my sit-in protest at Azad Maidan. I will continue my fight for justice.”The parents had earlier staged a hunger strike at Azad Maidan on Thursday and later announced that they would resume their protest on Monday.
What police have found so far
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is probing the alleged abetment to suicide case. Investigators have recorded statements of more than 25 people, including IIT Bombay students, faculty members and hostel staff.Police have also found that Wakode made phone calls to several friends after he was allegedly caught using his mobile phone to access AI platform during a mid-semester examination on September 18.According to police, Wakode spoke to a female friend after the examination and expressed regret over what had happened during his thermodynamics paper.His iPhone has been sent to the Kalina Forensic Science Laboratory for technical analysis to retrieve digital logs and device history.Police may seek assistance from Apple if forensic experts are unable to unlock the device. A request has also been made to WhatsApp for relevant account information.Investigators are examining digital evidence along with CCTV footage from the IIT Bombay campus to reconstruct the sequence of events after the examination.The CCTV footage has also been sent to the Kalina laboratory for certification under the Information Technology Act.Police are simultaneously examining the family’s allegations of caste-based harassment.Based on a complaint by Wakode’s father, Powai police registered an FIR against Prof Suryanarayana Doolla.In his statement, the father alleged that during their last meeting, Sahil told him that Doolla had subjected him to casteist abuse over the previous three months and that he feared being implicated in a false case.Police said Doolla’s statement has not yet been recorded as investigators continue to examine the statements, circumstances and technical evidence related to the case.
Students continue protest on campus
A section of IIT Bombay students has continued a peaceful sit-in at the campus, with the protest site, named “Justice Corner”, hosting discussions on the case.Students’ unions from other premier institutes have also extended support to the Wakode family and demanded a transparent investigation and action against those found responsible for Sahil’s death.
