IIT Bombay suicide case: Sahil Wakode's father detained on way to campus

Mumbai Police detained Ravindra Wakode (R) in Bhandup, Professor Suryanarayan Doolla (L)

MUMBAI: Mumbai Police on Thursday detained Ravindra Wakode in Bhandup while he was travelling to IIT-Bombay’s Powai campus to begin a hunger strike following the death of his son, second-year student Sahil Wakode.Wakode said he wanted to undertake the hunger strike for his son, who died by suicide on September 18.His planned protest came as Mumbai Youth Congress and NSUI workers staged a demonstration outside the IIT-Bombay campus in Powai demanding a fast-track inquiry and justice for Sahil.Police also detained several protesting NSUI-Congress workers and tightened security around the campus.

CCTV cameras recorded Sahil's movement

According to the preliminary findings of the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, CCTV cameras recorded Sahil’s movements inside the examination hall between 12.30pm and 12.45pm on September 18.Police said that with about 15 minutes remaining for the examination, Sahil was seen bending down to look at something kept in his pocket. A professor then questioned him and took him aside, away from the other students, according to the Crime Branch."After leaving the examination hall, Sahil moved across the campus. He reached his hostel room at approximately 1.25pm. He did not step out of the room thereafter," a Crime Branch official said.

The investigation is being conducted by an assistant commissioner of police under the supervision of the deputy commissioner of police, Detection-I, Crime Branch. Police have appealed to people not to speculate or draw premature conclusions.IIT-Bombay has also formed a 10-member committee to examine the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death. Professor Doolla has been relieved of his administrative responsibilities and sent on leave pending the inquiry.

'Most upright professors that we have'

Several current and former IIT-Bombay colleagues have backed Doolla and objected to the suspension of his deanship.Sharad Kumar Saraf, a former chairman of the institute’s Board of Governors, said he believed Doolla was innocent and that there was no evidence of caste-based discrimination against him."I have known Professor Doolla. During my tenure as Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT, he was the Dean of Students' Affairs, one of the most upright professors that we have," Saraf said.He also disputed the suggestion that caste had been discussed during the examination incident, saying the issue was raised by Sahil’s family after his death.Sahil, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, died by suicide on September 18.His family has alleged harassment and caste-based discrimination. The institute has said the circumstances surrounding the examination incident are being investigated.