'Torture, caste discrimination': IIT-Bombay student’s father seeks justice

Seeking justice, the father of a deceased IIT-Bombay student alleges that systemic torture and caste discrimination were catalysts for his son's suicide

MUMBAI: The father of IIT-Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide on the institute campus, has sought justice for his son and accused those responsible of pushing him towards the extreme step through alleged torture and caste discrimination.Ravindra Wakode has urged the government to take action against those he holds responsible, including terminating them from service."I appeal for a thorough investigation into those who pushed him toward suicide through torture and caste discrimination. I urge the government to ensure justice for my child by terminating them from service..." Ravindra said.

The fresh statement comes after Powai police registered an abetment of suicide case following a complaint by Sahil's parents.Police have also invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after the family alleged that Sahil was subjected to casteist remarks and harassment.The case was transferred to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch late Saturday, with an ACP-rank officer set to conduct the probe.A senior IIT-Bombay professor, Suryanarayana Doolla, has been named in the FIR along with "other senior officials" and "other officials concerned".

Doolla was the invigilator during the examination in which Sahil was allegedly caught using a mobile phone.Sahil, a second-year student in the energy science section, was found dead in his hostel room on Friday after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during an examination.He had allegedly uploaded the exam question paper on an AI platform to seek answers.Sahil's parents and some students alleged that he was taken out of the examination hall and threatened with suspension.IIT-Bombay, however, has maintained that no disciplinary action was initiated against him and that he was counselled and assured that the incident would not affect his academic career.IIT-Bombay director Shireesh Kedare has also denied caste-based discrimination at the institute, saying caste-related information of students is kept confidential and is not available to faculty or administrators.The institute's SC/ST cell said it had not received any complaint from Sahil alleging caste discrimination.In his statement forming part of the FIR, Ravindra had said that after entering his second year, Sahil told him that he had faced harassment from Doolla for three months.The family did not file a complaint with the institute at the time.Ravindra and his wife Sonali had initially refused to claim their son's body from Rajawadi Hospital's post-mortem centre, with the father saying he would not conduct the final rites until those responsible were arrested.The family eventually claimed the body after police assured them that the investigation had been transferred to the Crime Branch.The death has also triggered protests at IIT-Bombay, with students demanding action. The institute has postponed the mid-semester examinations scheduled for Saturday amid the protests.An IIT-Bombay spokesperson said the police had registered a case and that the institute would cooperate fully with the authorities, while urging people not to speculate as the investigation continues.(With agency inputs)