The parents of Sahil Wakode, the IIT Bombay student who died by suicide on September 18, have moved the Bombay High Court seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into his death, PTI reported on Saturday, October 31. The Hindu and the Free Press Journal also carried the story the same day.

Source: PTI via Dailyworld

Wakode was a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. He was found dead in his hostel room on September 18, hours after an examination-hall incident in which he was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination.

Source: The Times of India via Sabrang India

What the family alleges

His father Ravindra Wakode and mother Sonali Wakode allege that their son faced caste-based harassment and slurs at the institute. These are allegations, not findings: following the father's complaint, Powai police registered an FIR on September 19 naming Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and invoking charges of abetment of suicide and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and the case was transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch.

Source: Free Press Journal via My Press Today

The Crime Branch probe has recorded statements from more than 40 people, including students and staff, and seized CCTV footage from the examination hall and hostel as part of its investigation, according to earlier reporting on the case.

Source: Jazzbaat24

The other side

The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has backed Professor Doolla, saying he was simply carrying out his duties as an invigilator when he reported an alleged case of academic malpractice, in line with Senate-approved guidelines, and one faculty forum leader said there was no confirmed evidence of casteist remarks. The institute removed Doolla from his deanship, placed him on leave and set up a 10-member internal committee to look into the matter. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has also taken up the case and sought a report from officials.

Source: ANI via Webindia123

Sep 18, 2026Sahil Wakode found dead in his IIT Bombay hostel room
Sep 19, 2026FIR registered at Powai police station; probe later moved to the Mumbai Crime Branch
40+Statements recorded by the Crime Branch, per earlier reporting
Oct 31, 2026Parents move the Bombay High Court seeking a CBI or SIT probe

The parents had earlier held a hunger strike demanding arrests and a fair investigation, and on October 27 the father said the family had decided to approach the Bombay High Court for a fair probe into his son's death. The court has not yet ruled on the plea, and no hearing outcome had been reported as of Saturday. Awaaz Punjab will update this story when the court takes up the petition.

Source: The Times of India via Etleboro