Four days after the suicide of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, the Mumbai Police Crime Branch is examining CCTV footage from the examination hall and hostel to ascertain the events surrounding his death. The 22-year-old B.Tech student was found hanging in his hostel room on September 18. Just hours earlier, he had been accused of using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination. Following campus protests demanding accountability and institutional reforms, the case was handed over to the Crime Branch on September 19.
CCTV Timeline
According to police officials, CCTV cameras inside the examination hall captured Wakode’s movements. Suspecting him of cheating, a professor approached him and allegedly took him aside.
Reportedly, subsequent footage showed Wakode walking from the examination hall towards his hostel room. An official stated that he was not seen leaving the room after that.
Investigators are now collecting and correlating footage from various locations across the Powai campus to construct a detailed timeline and understand the sequence of events leading to his death.
Rajkumar Pant, President of the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum, stated that Wakode—a second-year student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering—had not recently approached the institute’s SC/ST cell regarding any grievances.
Protests and Removal of Dean
Following protests by students and political activists, the institute removed Surya Narayan Dulla from the post of Dean (Administrative Affairs) on Monday. A case of abetment to suicide and caste-based discrimination had been registered against him in connection with Wakode’s death. An official declined to comment on reports stating that CCTV footage showed Dulla questioning Wakode after allegedly spotting him looking at something in his pocket and subsequently taking him away from other students.
Police security on campus was stepped up following the protests. On Tuesday, police detained RPI activists who were protesting outside the IIT Bombay gate.
Student representatives state that the aim of their protest is not to justify academic misconduct, but to express concern regarding broader institutional practices and to demand reforms.
Student Demands: Following allegations by Sahil’s father regarding three months of caste-based abuse and institutional harassment, students are demanding an independent investigation by the CBI. Protesters have submitted an 18-point charter of demands to IIT Bombay Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare. These demands include changes to disciplinary procedures, increased student participation, improved mental health facilities, and the introduction of mandatory sensitivity programs for faculty. Student organizers emphasize that they are not defending academic irregularities but are calling for systemic reforms to address excessive academic pressure.
Changes on Campus
According to sources familiar with the matter, IIT Bombay has begun replacing ceiling fans with wall-mounted fans. Images showing the installation of wall-mounted fans as part of campus renovation work are being widely shared on social media.
A group of students has submitted a list of demands to the IIT Bombay Director. The Director acknowledged their concerns and assured them that the proposed measures would be implemented within a set timeframe. The Crime Branch investigation is currently ongoing.