The death of 20-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode has triggered protests, allegations of caste-based harassment and a police investigation into the events that unfolded in the hours before his death. As the Mumbai Crime Branch examines CCTV footage, statements from students and digital evidence, Sahil’s family has demanded the immediate arrest of those named in the FIR.

At the same time, preliminary findings reported by investigators have not established a concrete link between Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and Sahil’s death. The conflicting accounts have made the investigation particularly significant, with the police now attempting to reconstruct what happened inside the examination hall and during the crucial period that followed.

What happened to IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode?

Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student in IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room on September 18, hours after an incident during a mid-semester examination.

The immediate trigger for the controversy was an examination-related incident involving a mobile phone. Sahil was allegedly found with a phone during the examination, and the institute initially said he had used ChatGPT to seek answers by uploading the question paper.

That initial account later became a major point of contention. IIT Bombay subsequently apologised for its earlier communication, saying it was inappropriate to characterise the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death before the facts had been established through the proper investigative process.

Sahil’s family has disputed the cheating-related account and said the circumstances should be established through evidence and investigation rather than assumptions.

CCTV footage becomes key evidence

The Mumbai Crime Branch has taken possession of CCTV recordings from the examination hall and other parts of the IIT Bombay campus as investigators attempt to establish Sahil’s movements on September 18.

Reports indicate that footage from around 12.30 pm to 12.45 pm shows Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was supervising the examination, questioning Sahil and subsequently asking him to leave the examination hall. Other cameras reportedly captured Sahil leaving the examination area and later returning towards his hostel.

Police are particularly interested in understanding what was said between Sahil and the professor during those minutes. Investigators have been questioning students who were present in the examination hall and asking them to describe the interaction.

However, CCTV footage alone has not established whether Sahil actually used ChatGPT on the phone to obtain answers. Investigators are therefore examining additional evidence, including the phone itself, to determine what happened.

Sahil's phone sent for forensic examination

The seized mobile phone has emerged as an important piece of evidence in the investigation. Investigators are examining its contents and chats to determine whether they can establish what Sahil was doing during the examination and whether there were communications that could provide clues about his state of mind before his death.

The forensic examination is also expected to help clarify the central question surrounding the examination incident: whether the phone was actually being used to access ChatGPT or for another purpose.

Police are simultaneously piecing together CCTV footage from different locations on the campus, including the examination area, corridors and hostel premises. Several student statements have also been recorded.

Family alleges caste-based harassment

While the examination incident is one part of the investigation, Sahil’s parents have raised a much broader allegation.

His father, Ravindra Wakode, has alleged that his son had been subjected to caste-based harassment and mental pressure for several months. The family has specifically accused Professor Doolla of making caste-related remarks and has alleged that Sahil had spoken to his parents about the treatment he was receiving.

Sahil’s mother, Sonali Wakode, has also said that her son told the family during their last meeting on September 13 that he was being humiliated and harassed. The parents have maintained that they believe the alleged harassment needs to be investigated in connection with their son’s death.

An FIR filed following the family’s complaint includes allegations of abetment to suicide and provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

However, the allegations remain unproven. The institute’s SC/ST cell has said that it had not received a complaint from Sahil alleging caste discrimination. Police sources have also said that, during the initial stage of the investigation, they had not found an eyewitness or material evidence independently confirming the alleged casteist remarks.

Why hasn't anyone been arrested yet?

The absence of arrests has become a major source of anger for Sahil’s family.

His father has repeatedly demanded the immediate arrest of Professor Doolla and IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare, both of whom are named in the family's allegations. On Tuesday, Ravindra questioned why no arrests had been made despite the FIR and said the family wanted justice while allowing the investigation to continue.

He also announced plans for a peaceful protest and later indicated that he would begin a hunger strike if officials named in the case were not arrested.

The police, however, have continued gathering evidence. Preliminary findings reported on September 22 indicated that investigators had not found concrete evidence linking the professor to abetment of suicide at that stage. Importantly, investigators also clarified that this was not a final conclusion and that the probe remained ongoing.

The distinction is significant: the absence of sufficient evidence at an early stage does not settle the allegations one way or another. Investigators are still examining the available material.

Professor Doolla sent on leave

Amid the growing controversy, IIT Bombay's Board of Governors has asked Professor Suryanarayana Doolla to go on leave.

Doolla had earlier been removed from his administrative responsibilities as protests intensified on campus. The decision to send him on leave comes while both the police investigation and the institute's internal inquiry are underway.

A 10-member high-level committee has also been constituted to examine the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death. The panel is headed by Professor Ramesh Venkateswaran, chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Palakkad, and includes faculty members, students, a retired IAS officer, a former institute vigilance official and a psychiatrist. The committee has been asked to submit its report within a week.

The committee is separate from the criminal investigation being conducted by the Mumbai Crime Branch.

Doolla to face questioning as probe continues

Professor Doolla is also expected to have his statement recorded by the Crime Branch as investigators examine the examination incident and the allegations made against him.

Police have already questioned other faculty members who were present during the interaction following the examination incident. Students who witnessed events inside the examination hall are also being questioned.

The investigation is therefore looking beyond a single interaction. Officers are attempting to establish a timeline from the examination, Sahil’s departure from the hall, his return to the hostel and the events preceding his death.

Faculty members defend professor, campus remains divided

The controversy has also produced sharply different reactions within the IIT Bombay community.

The institute's Faculty Forum has expressed support for Doolla and maintained that he was performing his responsibility as an examination invigilator when he acted against alleged unauthorised phone use. Faculty representatives have also pointed out that Sahil had not approached the institute's SC/ST cell with a complaint about caste discrimination.

At the same time, students have staged demonstrations demanding accountability and a transparent investigation into Sahil’s death. The issue has consequently developed into a wider debate about examination procedures, student welfare, disciplinary mechanisms, caste-related concerns and the adequacy of support systems on elite campuses.

What happens next in the IIT Bombay suicide case?

For now, several crucial questions remain unanswered.

Investigators have to determine exactly what happened during the examination, whether Sahil used the phone to access ChatGPT, what was said during his interaction with the professor, whether any disciplinary action was actually initiated or threatened, and whether there is evidence supporting the family's allegations of caste-based harassment.

The forensic examination of Sahil's phone, CCTV footage, witness statements and the statements of the faculty members involved could prove central to establishing that sequence.

The 10-member internal committee is also expected to submit its report within a week, potentially adding another layer of findings to the ongoing police investigation.

For Sahil’s family, however, the immediate demand remains clear: they want those named in the FIR arrested and the circumstances surrounding their son's death fully investigated. For the authorities, the challenge is to establish the facts through evidence before reaching conclusions about responsibility.

As of September 23, 2026, the allegations against the professor and other officials have not been conclusively established, while the preliminary police findings have not ruled on the case. The investigation remains active, with the examination incident, alleged caste harassment and Sahil’s final hours all under scrutiny.

With input from agencies
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