IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode death: Crime Branch yet to summon Professor Suryanarayana Doolla
Mumbai: Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, a key accused named by the parents of 20-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode, has not yet been summoned by the Mumbai Crime Branch, though his statement is expected to be recorded soon, a senior Crime Branch source said.
Investigators are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the classroom, lobby and other parts of the IIT Bombay campus to reconstruct Sahil's movements and establish the sequence of events leading up to his death. Statements from several students have also been recorded as part of the ongoing investigation.
Sahil, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room following an examination.
On Tuesday, Sahil's parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, visited the Mumbai Crime Branch and demanded the immediate arrest of Professor Doolla and Professor Shireesh Kedare, both of whom they have named in connection with their son's death.
Speaking to reporters, Ravindra Wakode urged investigators to complete the probe quickly and take action against those responsible.
“I came to the Crime Branch today. My request to everyone is to complete the investigation as soon as possible and arrest those who are involved, namely Shireesh Kedare and Suryanarayana Doolla,” he said.
Ravindra said his son had been a bright student who had secured a rank in the IIT Advanced examination. He alleged that Sahil had been under severe distress and expressed regret over previously advising his son to tolerate the difficulties at IIT, believing that his life would improve afterwards.
Meanwhile, hundreds of IIT Bombay students held a demonstration on the campus on Tuesday in support of Professor Doolla, who was recently relieved of his position as Dean of Student Affairs amid the inquiry into Sahil's death.
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum also organised a campus march backing Doolla. The forum maintained that Doolla was performing his duties as an invigilator when he reported an alleged incident of academic malpractice involving the unauthorised use of a smartphone during an examination, in accordance with Senate-approved guidelines.
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Professor Rajkumar S Pant, president of the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum, also defended Doolla, saying he had acted according to institutional rules after observing Sahil using a mobile phone during the examination.
Pant also said Sahil had not approached the institute's SC Cell with any complaint of alleged caste discrimination.
“Professor Doolla is not suspended as a professor of IIT Bombay, and he is still a teaching faculty member in our institution,” Pant told ANI.
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The Crime Branch is now examining CCTV footage from multiple locations on the campus to trace Sahil's movements from the examination hall to his hostel and establish the events preceding his death. The investigation is ongoing.
(ANI)