IIT Bombay Suicide Case: The death of BTech student Sahil Wakode at IIT Bombay has resulted in demands for accountability and investigation into the matter. The father of the deceased, Ravindra Wakode, said that he was planning to go on a hunger strike if the officials named in the case were not arrested.
Father plans hunger strike
Ravindra Wakode declared that he would start a hunger strike from Wednesday, September 23, due to his demand for the arrest of officials named in the case. This demand is being raised as the family seeks more information about the matter.
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Ten-member probe panel at IIT Bombay
A ten-member high-level committee has been set up by the Board of Governors at IIT Bombay to probe the death of Sahil. The committee will be led by Professor Ramesh Venkateswaran from IIT Palakkad and comprises of faculty members, students, a retired IAS officer, retired vigilance officer, and a psychiatrist.
Professor on leave during inquiry
Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was accused by Sahil’s family, has been asked to proceed on leave until the inquiry takes place. The decision has been made due to continued investigation into the conditions that led to the death of the student.
Other IIT faculties demand due process
The incident has also caught attention from other IIT faculties, and faculty members from IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Guwahati, IIT Roorkee, and IIT Hyderabad have demanded due process and an impartial inquiry.
Demands by students
The students of IIT Bombay have listed 18 demands, which include an independent inquiry, modification of the student welfare and grievance redressal system, improvements in healthcare facilities, and availability of a 24×7 psychiatrist.
Police investigation continues
The Crime Branch in Mumbai is also investigating the case through CCTV footage, digital evidences, and statements from both the students and faculty members, as they try to establish the sequence of events that led to the student’s death.
