IIT Bombay alumni seek fair, speedy probe into Sahil Wakode death; appeal against ‘media trial’

The IIT Bombay Alumni Association IITBAA has called for a fair transparent and speedy investigation into the alleged suicide of 22yearold student Sahil Wakode while urging people to avoid speculation media trials and conclusions directed at individuals before the investigation is completeThe association said IIT Bombay was going through an extremely difficult period and stressed the need for an equitable inclusive and supportive environment for students faculty members and staffAlumni association urges fair and transparent investigationIn a statement issued on Tuesday IITBAA said the investigation into Sahil Wakodersquos death should be conducted without prejudice and in accordance with due processWe fully support a fair transparent and speedy investigation into this tragic event and urge that all procedures be conducted with complete fairness and without prejudice We strongly appeal against online speculation media trials or nasty conclusions directed at any individual it saidThe association also said it was willing to work with the institute to strengthen mental health resources and campus wellbeingWe stand ready to collaborate with the institute to strengthen mental health resources support campus wellbeing and help rebuild trust across our entire community the statement addedParents seek action against IIT Bombay professorsWakodersquos parents have demanded the immediate arrest of IIT Bombay Director Professor Shirish Kedare and Professor Suryanarayana Doolla Doolla was removed as the dean of Administrative Affairs following protests by students and political activistsA case has been registered against Doolla on charges of abetment and caste discriminationWakode a secondyear BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering was found hanging in his hostel room on the evening of September 18 This happened hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a midsemester examinationHis parents have disputed the circumstances surrounding the examination incident and have called for all evidence to be examined before conclusions are drawnMother alleges castebased abuse and humiliationWakodersquos mother Sonali Wakode has alleged that her son had told the family about castebased slurs and harassmentHe specifically told us that Professor Suryanarayana Doolla would say I am from an upper caste and you are from a lower caste According to what Sahil told us this had been continuing for around three months she claimedSonali Wakode said that when she and her husband met Sahil in his hostel room on September 13 he told them that he was being tortured and subjected to abuseShe also questioned the institutersquos initial claim that Sahil had been caught using ChatGPT during an examination She said that any allegation of cheating should be supported by evidenceSahilrsquos father Ravindra Wakode said the circumstances surrounding his sonrsquos death would become clear only after the accused in the case were arrestedAlumnus calls for debate on SCST ActIIT Bombay alumnus and activist Sudheendra Kulkarni has meanwhile called for the withdrawal of the SCST Act case against Doolla alleging that the law has been widely misused and calling for a national debate on its reformKulkarni also said higher education institutions including IITs needed to continuously improve campus life and take steps to reduce stress among students He called for coaching and peersupport initiatives for students from marginalised communitiesHis comments come amid a wider debate over student welfare campus safety and the handling of complaints involving caste discrimination at higher education institutionsProtests follow studentrsquos deathThe death of Wakode has triggered protests on the IIT Bombay campus with students and political activists demanding action and a detailed investigation into the circumstances leading to his deathThe police have increased security measures on the campus following the protestsWith inputs from PTI