IIT-Bombay on boil: Professor sent on leave, student's parents 'driven' out of city

Suryanarayana Doolla (L), Ravindra Wakode (R)

MUMBAI: The parents of IIT-Bombay student Sahil Wakode alleged they were driven out of Mumbai in a “private car” early Wednesday morning despite repeatedly telling the driver that they intended to stay in the city and begin a hunger strike outside the Powai institute.The family, accompanied by their lawyer, said they reached the Karanja Lad area of Washim district by early morning. They had earlier spoken to the media outside the Crime Branch office in Bandra and later outside the IIT-Bombay campus in Powai.The development came as the Mumbai Crime Branch continued its investigation into Sahil's death and his parents demanded the immediate arrest of the two people named in the FIR.

Family alleges they were taken in private car

According to lawyer Nikhil Wakode, after the family left the IIT-Bombay gate in Powai, they were asked by men in plain clothes to shift to another vehicle.“We were asked to change the car by some people who were not in uniform. I was wondering why my clients were being taken in a private car when they had their own vehicle. So I too sat along with them. I don't know the name of the officers, they were in mufti,” Wakode said.Sahil's father, Ravindra Wakode, said the family repeatedly asked the driver where they were being taken.

“He kept saying, ‘I am dropping you home’,” Wakode said, who added, they were also tired and sleepy.The family said they had made it clear that they did not want to return home and planned to begin a hunger strike outside IIT-Bombay from Wednesday morning.“I have taken permission for that,” Wakode said.Wakode claimed police vehicles initially followed the private car but were no longer visible after it entered the Samruddhi Expressway.“We then told the driver that we wanted to use the washroom and got off the vehicle,” he said.He said the family was returning to Mumbai and remained determined to begin the hunger strike outside IIT-Bombay.“I want justice for my son. Do you realise that 100 hours have passed and no action has been taken against the offenders?” he said.

IIT-Bombay professor sent on leave

Meanwhile, IIT-Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who has been named as an accused in the case, has been sent on leave to facilitate an impartial probe.The institute on Monday removed Doolla as dean of Administrative Affairs following protests over Sahil's death.Doolla was sent on leave after being removed from the dean's post to enable an impartial investigation. No classes are currently underway, they added.The Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating Sahil's death.

Parents demand arrest of two accused

Ravindra Wakode on Tuesday demanded the immediate arrest of the two accused named in the FIR, saying the family wanted a fair investigation and justice for their son.“No action has been taken. If they have taken action, they should show us. Why haven't they arrested them? Where is the arrest? Have they arrested them?” Ravindra Wakode said.He said the family had given their statements to the authorities and would not interfere with the investigation. He also said they planned to hold a peaceful protest in Powai.“We held a press conference in Powai as well. And now, we are going to sit on a protest strike.

We want to do this peacefully. We will not create any obstacles in their investigation,” he said.Ravindra Wakode also alleged that there had been previous incidents of student suicides and questioned whether those cases had been properly investigated.“Look at the background of the IIT student. My son's death was murder, and there have been suicides before this as well. Why hasn't this been investigated yet? You should see their FIR.

Why are these cases always hushed up?” he said.He said the family was not concerned about any committee and wanted action against those named in the FIR.“We don't care about the committee. All we want is for our son to get justice. They should be arrested first. Arrest them, and then conduct your investigation. We have no problem with the investigation,” he added.

Lawyer says family wants 'fair investigation'

Sahil's family lawyer Nikhil Kambale said the family's demand was the arrest of the two accused named in the FIR — Shirish Kedare and Suryanarayan Dudhla — after which the investigation could proceed.“This is part of an investigation. It doesn't matter what we say, it won't affect the investigation. My client's only expectation and repeated demand is that the accused named in the FIR, both accused, should be arrested immediately,” Kambale said.Responding to claims made by the IIT-Bombay Faculty Forum, Kambale said the family did not want to get involved in allegations and counter-allegations.“These claims are irrelevant. Such claims will keep coming and going.

We will respond to their claims, and they will respond to our reaction, but that won't solve anything. Our only point is that the investigation should be fair,” he said.Kambale said the family wanted the Crime Branch to conduct a fair probe and ensure justice for Sahil.“The crime branch is doing their job; we want them to arrest the accused and provide justice. My client just wants justice for his child. There is no intention to react; nothing will happen by reacting.

The case will not grow. We want a fair investigation,” he said.

ABVP seeks probe before action

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Wednesday called for a thorough investigation into Sahil's death and said action should be taken against whoever is found responsible after the probe.ABVP national general secretary Virendra Singh Solanki said taking action without establishing the facts would not be appropriate.“Our workers are already involved in this. We have demanded an investigation.

Taking any action without a detailed understanding of the matter and ascertaining the truth would not be appropriate. Therefore, we have demanded a complete investigation,” he said.“Once the investigation is completed, action should be taken against whoever is found responsible,” Solanki added.Sahil, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging in his hostel room on September 18 evening, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access AI platform during a mid-semester examination.His parents have alleged that he faced caste-based discrimination and demanded action against those they hold responsible for his death.Sahil's mother, Sonali Wakode, claimed that her son had told the family he was being tortured, abused and humiliated because of his caste.She claimed Sahil “specifically told us that Professor Suryanarayana Doolla would say, 'I am from an upper caste and you are from a lower caste' and this had been continuing for around three months.”She also questioned the institute's initial claim that Sahil had been caught using AI platform during an examination, saying anyone making allegations of cheating must provide evidence.Ravindra Wakode said the truth would emerge only after the accused in the case were arrested.