IIT Bombay Student Suicide Case: Sahil Wakode Told Female Friend He Regretted Cheating During Exam Before Death, Say Cops

On September 18, IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, 22, was found dead in his hostel room after allegedly copying during an exam, according to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. He had spoken to friends about his regret regarding the cheating incident earlier that day. The police have recorded statements from over 25 individuals, including friends of Wakode, and are investigating the death as a potential case of suicide.

Wakode confessed to a female friend around 2:30 pm that he had made a mistake and that the cheating incident had exacerbated his distress. The police have sent his iPhone to the Kalina Forensic Science Laboratory for examination, and are also seeking information from his WhatsApp account. Apple may also be approached for assistance if the contents of the device cannot be accessed by forensic experts.

The investigation also includes CCTV footage from the IIT Bombay campus, which has been sent to the forensic lab for analysis. The police have not yet interviewed IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla, named as an accused in the FIR registered by Powai police based on a complaint from Wakode's father. The father alleged that his son had been harassed by Doolla over caste issues for three months, and expressed fear of being implicated in a false case.

The Crime Branch is examining statements from those who interacted with the student in his final hours, as well as CCTV footage and digital evidence, to establish the sequence of events surrounding his death.