An IIT Bombay student, Sahil Ravindra Wakode, died by suicide in his hostel room, prompting police to register an FIR against a professor and two others. Wakode's parents allege severe mental harassment and casteist slurs, leading to the charges of abetment of suicide and offenses under the SC/ST Act. The incident occurred after the student was reportedly caught using his mobile phone during an examination, though IIT Bombay stated no disciplinary action was taken and the student was counselled.

An IIT Bombay student, Sahil Ravindra Wakode, died by suicide in his hostel room, prompting police to register an FIR against a professor and two others. Wakode's parents allege severe mental harassment and casteist slurs, leading to the charges of abetment of suicide and offenses under the SC/ST Act. The incident occurred after the student was reportedly caught using his mobile phone during an examination, though IIT Bombay stated no disciplinary action was taken and the student was counselled.

An IIT Bombay student, Sahil Ravindra Wakode, died by suicide in his hostel room, prompting police to register an FIR against a professor and two others. Wakode's parents allege severe mental harassment and casteist slurs, leading to the charges of abetment of suicide and offenses under the SC/ST Act. The incident occurred after the student was reportedly caught using his mobile phone during an examination, though IIT Bombay stated no disciplinary action was taken and the student was counselled.

Police have registered an FIR against a professor and two others after 22-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode died by suicide in his hostel room on Friday.

Wakode, a native of Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his room, hours after he was allegedly caught using his mobile phone during an examination.

Based on complaints filed by his parents, Powai police registered a case under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (abetment of suicide), along with relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

In his complaint, Wakode’s father alleged that his son had been subjected to severe mental harassment and casteist slurs over the past three months. He alleged that Professor Suryanarayan Dulla, who was invigilating the examination during which Wakode was caught using his phone, hurled caste-based abuses at his son at the alleged behest of Director Shireesh B. Kedare.

Wakode’s mother also alleged that her son had been subjected to torture at the institute. “My son was killed, tortured. I want justice,” she told reporters.

Police had initially registered an Accidental Death Report in connection with the incident before registering the FIR based on the family’s complaints.

In a statement, IIT Bombay said Wakode had allegedly uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers during the exam. The institute, however, said no disciplinary action had been initiated against him.

According to IIT Bombay, the instructor and the Head of the Department discussed the matter with Wakode and counselled him, assuring him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

Wakode’s death came to light after his hostel mates received no response from his room and alerted institute authorities, who subsequently informed the police.