IIT student death: Sahil Wakode’s parents move Bombay HC seeking CBI, SIT probe

Sahil Wakode’s parents. File | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

The parents of Sahil Wakode, an IIT student who died by suicide on September 18, have moved Bombay High Court seeking a fair and independent investigation into his death by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The plea filed by Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, through advocate Hitendra Gandhi, said their 20-year-old son had died by suicide after facing caste-based humiliation. The plea is likely to be mentioned on Monday (October 31, 2026).

The petition alleged that police had failed to probe the case with the seriousness it merits and, hence, sought the probe to be monitored by a retired judge. On their complaint, Powai police had earlier registered a case of abetment of suicide and other offences.

The petition has also sought a direction to the institution to secure all CCTV footage of that day and also to ensure no one influences any student or faculty who witnessed the events of the day their son died.

Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, died on September 18. His parents have alleged that some faculty members and the invigilator had made certain casteist remarks against Sahil, who then took the extreme step of killing himself.

In the plea, the parents said Sahil, on being allotted a room at IIT, wished to hang a portrait of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar but was advised against it by his roommates who told him he could face caste-based discrimination.

When Sahil informed his parents, they too advised him not to hang the photograph in order to avoid any conflict, the plea said.

It further alleged that Sahil had been facing caste-based remarks from Professor Surayanarayan Doolla, who was also the invigilator during the exam on September 18.

Those in distress may contact Sanjivini, Society for Mental Health suicide prevention helpline: 011-40769002.

Published - October 31, 2026 05:15 pm IST