IIT Bombay student suicide case: Father denied permission to protest at Azad Maidan

Parents of the deceased student (File pic)

The father of an IIT Bombay student who allegedly died by suicide, was denied permission to continue his protest at Azad Maidan, prompting him to plan a visit to the institute's Powai campus, his lawyer said on Saturday.

As per PTI, the development comes at a time when a group of IIT Bombay students intensified their ongoing agitation over Sahil's death by launching a hunger strike on Friday to demand accountability from the institute administration.

According to the deceased student's family lawyer, the police did not permit Ravindra Wakode to stage a protest at Azad Maidan, and he was planning to go to IIT Bombay.

Earlier the parents of the student had launched a hunger strike last week seeking "justice" for their deceased son and demanding the arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and IIT-B director Shireesh Kedare.

A 22-year-old second-year BTech student was found hanging in his hostel room on September 18, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination. His parents have alleged that he faced caste-based discrimination at the institute.

An FIR was registered by the Powai police against Professor Doolla for alleged abetment to suicide and invoking provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after Ravindra Wakode lodged a complaint.

Student's family meets Congress leaders

The Wakode family, meanwhile, met Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal, the party's city unit chief Varsha Gaikwad, and other party leaders and discussed the case.

On Thursday, the crime branch, which is probing the case, questioned Professor Doolla for nearly 10 hours and recorded his statement. Police have recorded statements of around 40 people, including Sahil's parents, fellow students, and IIT hostel staff, while electronic devices belonging to the deceased student have been sent for forensic examination, according to reports.

IIT-B professor questioned by Mumbai Crime Branch

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Crime Branch has recorded the statement of Professor Suryanarayan Doolla. The professor was questioned for approximately eight hours, during which his statement was recorded. He denied all allegations levelled against him, as per IANS.

The students' parents filed a police complaint that Professor Doolla had harassed their son. Acting on the allegations, the Crime Branch questioned the professor about the events leading up to Wakode's death and his interactions with the student.

During the interrogation, Professor Doolla denied all the allegations leveled against him, according to sources.

The Mumbai Crime Branch is also expected to summon IIT-Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare soon to record his statement as part of the ongoing investigation.

(With inputs from PTI)