IIT Bombay student death: Mumbai Crime Branch takes over probe, examines digital evidence

The Mumbai Crime Branch has taken over the investigation into the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode with investigators examining his mobile phone and other digital evidence as part of the probe into the circumstances surrounding his deathWakode a secondyear student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering was found dead in his hostel room on September 18 hours after he was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a midsemester examinationThe case has since led to protests on the Powai campus while Wakodes parents have alleged that he faced castebased harassment and mental harassment before his death Police have registered a case of alleged abetment of suicide and invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities ActCrime Branch examines phone other evidenceInvestigators are conducting a technical examination of Wakodes seized mobile phone to look for a suicide note or other material that could help establish the circumstances preceding his deathThe Crime Branch is also inspecting the scene at Hostel No 4 on the IIT Bombay campus and examining available evidence including CCTV footage and other digital material A senior police officer of ACP rank is leading the investigationNo suicide note was found in the hostel room according to the investigation details reported so farPolice are also expected to question people named in the FIR as the investigation progresses Professor Suryanarayana Doolla who was the course instructor and invigilator during the examination has been named in the case based on the complaint lodged by Wakodes parentsFamily alleges castebased harassmentWakodes parents have alleged that their son faced castebased harassment and mental harassment by faculty members in the months before his deathThe FIR registered by Powai police names Doolla along with other senior officials and includes provisions of the BNS relating to alleged abetment of suicide as well as the SCST Prevention of Atrocities Act These allegations are now part of the Crime Branch investigation and have not been establishedIIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare has denied the allegations of castebased discrimination saying there was no substance to the claim and that he was not aware of any earlier complaint by Wakode regarding castebased discriminationIIT Bombay apologises over earlier statementThe investigation has also prompted IIT Bombay to withdraw from characterising the events that preceded Wakodes death before they are established through the official probeWe apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil The details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities In view of the ongoing investigation it was inappropriate to have set out or characterised details relating to the events preceding his demise before they had been duly established through the appropriate investigative processThe institute had earlier said Wakode was found using a mobile phone during an examination and had allegedly uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT It subsequently said that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him and that the matter had been discussed with the instructor faculty adviser and Head of DepartmentFaculty Forum backs professorAmid the controversy the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has expressed grief over Wakodes death and extended support to Professor DoollaThe Forum said Doolla was performing his duties in accordance with academic policies approved by the institutes Senate and currently in force It also expressed concern that his professional reputation was being affected by the allegationsAccording to the Forum a midterm examination was conducted on September 18 from 11 am to 1 pm It said Doolla who was the course instructor and invigilator observed a student allegedly committing an academic irregularity involving possession and use of a smartphone during the examinationThe Forum said Doolla reported the incident to the institute authorities in accordance with established procedureProtests continue on IIT Bombay campusThe Crime Branch investigation comes amid continued protests by students and growing demands for an independent inquiry into Wakodes deathStudents have questioned the circumstances surrounding the incident and sought accountability while the institute has maintained that the matter is under investigation and that it will cooperate with the authoritiesThe situation remained tense on campus on Sunday with police deployment increased as protests continued Wakodes final rites were conducted in his hometown of Yavatmal on Sunday after his family claimed his body following the postmortem examinationThe Crime Branch will now examine the digital and other evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding Wakodes deathWith inputs from IANS