IIT Bombay Student Representatives Clarify Stand On Sahil Wakode Death, Say 'Protest Was Not To Justify Cheating'

Mumbai: Following the suicide of second-year IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, student representatives have released an official statement clarifying their protest's purpose and stance. They express that the demonstration was not meant to justify cheating or academic misconduct but to highlight systemic issues and advocate for institutional reforms.

The student body maintains that they do not condone cheating or any form of academic dishonesty, emphasizing that Wakode's death is a deeply tragic event that has spurred their reflection on the institute's systems. The statement adds that the protest's intent was to seek meaningful reforms to prevent similar situations from occurring again.

The student representatives also welcomed the open house with IIT Bombay Director Prof Shireesh Kedare and other administrators, stating that it allowed students to directly voice their concerns. They reaffirm their support for Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who is under investigation in connection to Wakode's death, stating that they never presumed his guilt or prejudged the investigation.

The student representatives explained that their demand for Doolla to step down from his administrative role was a precautionary measure to ensure the investigation's fairness and impartiality. They insist that the findings and subsequent actions should stem from the established investigative process. Amid scrutiny over the demands raised during the protest following Wakode's death, the student representatives clarify that their calls for an independent inquiry and reforms were intended to address specific issues, including the examination incident and a range of academic, disciplinary, and student-welfare concerns.

They emphasize that the loss of Sahil Wakode should not serve as a platform for external political influence or narratives, and they insist that the concerns should remain student-led and addressed within the institute.