Legal Battle for Justice

The grieving parents of Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay who died by suicide on September 18, have moved the Bombay High Court. They are seeking a fair, independent investigation into the tragedy by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT), alongside a court-monitored probe.

Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, through their legal counsel Advocate Hitendra Gandhi, filed the petition alleging that their 20-year-old son took his own life after enduring severe caste-based humiliation and harassment on campus. The petition is scheduled to be mentioned for urgent hearing.

Allegations of Institutional Apathy and Casteism

According to the plea, local police have failed to investigate the matter with the requisite gravity and sensitivity. Consequently, the family has requested that the inquiry be monitored by a retired high court judge. The Powai police had previously registered a case under sections concerning abetment of suicide and related offenses based on the family's initial complaint.

The petition details distressing circumstances leading up to the tragedy. It claims that upon being allotted a hostel room, Sahil wished to hang a portrait of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar but was discouraged by his roommates, who warned him of potential caste-based discrimination. Acting on caution, both Sahil and his parents initially avoided displaying the portrait to prevent conflict.

Furthermore, the legal filing explicitly names Professor Suryanarayan Doolla—who also served as the invigilator during Sahil's examination on September 18—accusing him of repeatedly directing casteist remarks at the young student.

Demands for Evidence Preservation and Scrutiny

In addition to the high court plea, the parents have filed an application before a special court designated to hear cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This application raises serious concerns regarding the integrity of the ongoing investigation and the handling of evidence by the institution.

The family alleges that IIT Bombay authorities leaked selective materials to the media, including CCTV footage, private telephone conversations, and details of an alleged apology letter written by Sahil after purportedly being caught cheating. The application argues that these leaks were orchestrated with malafide intent to construct a one-sided narrative and tarnish the deceased student's character.

Raising red flags over procedural discrepancies, the application notes that police document verification revealed a missing page from Sahil's answer booklet for the September 18 exam. The parents have demanded an immediate forensic examination of the original answer booklet, a strict chain-of-custody audit, and verification of whether digital backups or scans capture the missing page.

Finally, the application urges the judiciary to secure all institutional CCTV footage from the day of the incident, protect witnesses from institutional influence, and verify whether Professor Doolla has traveled abroad during the active investigation, requesting Look Out Circulars (LOC) or passport measures if deemed necessary.