IIT Bombay Panel To Submit Report In A Week As Students Press For Fair Probe Into Sahil Wakode’s Death

Students at IIT Bombay are persistently demanding a fair investigation into the death of second-year student Sahil Wakode, while a committee established by the institute is set to deliver its report within a week. A group of students held a sit-in on campus on Wednesday, vowing to continue their protest until all 18 points of their charter of demands are addressed.

Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, the Dean of Administrative Affairs, has been stripped of his position and placed on a week-long leave. The committee, headed by Professor Ramesh Venkateswaran, chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Palakkad, comprises IIT Bombay faculty members, students, an administrator, a former vigilance officer, and a psychiatrist.

Among the student representatives are Aditya Joshi, the general secretary of hostel affairs; Dev Arora, the overall coordinator of the Student Mentor Programme; and research scholar Devi Lal. The demands of the students include an independent inquiry, enhanced grievance redressal, and improved mental health support. Wakode's family has alleged that he faced caste-based harassment, while the Mumbai Police crime branch is currently investigating the case, including events surrounding an examination prior to his death.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has called for a thorough investigation, asserting that taking action before facts are established would be inappropriate.