Student Suicide: Youth Congress Seeks Arrest of IIT Bombay Director and Prof Doolla, Demands Impartial Probe

Youth Congress Demands Arrest of IIT Bombay Officials

Youth Congress national president Uday Bhanu Chib on Thursday demanded the immediate arrest of IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare and Professor Suryanarayana Doolla in connection with the death of student Sahil Wakode.

Chib also called for an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death, saying that an inquiry conducted internally by IIT Bombay would not be sufficiently independent.

Sahil Wakode’s Death

Sahil Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay, was found dead in his hostel room on September 18.

According to reports, the incident occurred hours after Wakode was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination. His parents have alleged that he faced caste-based discrimination and harassment. These allegations are part of the ongoing investigation and have not been independently established.

Allegations of Caste-Based and Mental Harassment

Chib alleged that Wakode had faced caste-based and mental harassment at the institute and claimed that pressure arising from the circumstances preceding his death contributed to the tragedy.

Wakode’s parents have also raised allegations of caste-based discrimination. The Youth Congress has sought a probe outside the institute to establish the circumstances leading to his death.

IIT Bombay has disputed the allegations surrounding the student’s treatment and has said the circumstances remain under investigation.

Professor Doolla Sent on Leave

Professor Suryanarayana Doolla has been at the centre of the controversy following the student’s death.

IIT Bombay removed Doolla from his administrative position as Dean of Administrative Affairs earlier this week. He remains a faculty member at the institute, while the institute has also sent him on leave amid the ongoing investigation.

Doolla has also been named in the police case registered following the complaint by Wakode’s family. Mumbai Police have booked him under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita concerning abetment of suicide.

IIT Bombay Sets Up 10-Member Probe Panel

IIT Bombay has constituted a 10-member committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death.

The panel is headed by Professor Ramesh Venkateswaran, Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Palakkad, and has been asked to examine the events leading up to the student’s death. The panel is expected to submit its report within a week.

The institute has also apologised for an earlier communication that contained statements about the circumstances preceding Wakode’s death, saying it was inappropriate to characterise details before they had been established through the appropriate investigative process.

Youth Congress Seeks Independent Investigation

Chib argued that the investigation should not be controlled by IIT Bombay because officials of the institute have themselves been named in allegations surrounding the case.

The Youth Congress has also demanded that data from Wakode’s laptop, mobile phone and other electronic devices, reportedly with the Crime Branch, be made available to his family at the earliest.

Protests Continue Outside IIT Bombay

The case has triggered protests by Congress, Youth Congress and student groups outside the IIT Bombay campus.

On Thursday, Congress MP and Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad and several Congress and NSUI activists were detained during a demonstration at the institute’s Powai campus. The protesters demanded a fair investigation and accountability in the case.

Students at IIT Bombay have also raised several demands, including an independent investigation, changes to student welfare and grievance-redressal systems, improved healthcare facilities and access to a 24-hour psychiatrist on campus.

Faculty Members Support Prof Doolla

The controversy has also led to a response from IIT Bombay faculty members.

The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has expressed support for Doolla and said he continues to be a faculty member in good standing. Faculty members have argued that he was carrying out his responsibilities under the institute’s academic procedures.

At the same time, student protesters have demanded stronger action against Doolla, including suspension from his teaching responsibilities rather than only removal from an administrative position.

Investigation Will Determine the Facts

The allegations against IIT Bombay officials remain subject to investigation. The Youth Congress and Wakode’s family have alleged caste-based discrimination, harassment and institutional pressure, while the institute has disputed these claims and said the circumstances surrounding the death need to be established through due process.

The police investigation and the 10-member IIT Bombay committee are expected to examine the evidence and determine the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death.

Key Takeaways

• Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib has demanded the arrest of IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare and Professor Suryanarayana Doolla.

• The demand follows the death by suicide of 22-year-old BTech student Sahil Wakode.

• Wakode’s family has alleged caste-based discrimination and harassment.

• Professor Doolla has been removed from his administrative role and sent on leave but continues to be a faculty member.

• Mumbai Police have booked Doolla under provisions of the SC/ST Act and Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

• IIT Bombay has formed a 10-member panel to investigate the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death.

• Youth Congress has called for an impartial investigation and access to Wakode’s electronic-device data.

• IIT Bombay has disputed allegations and said the circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation.