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IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode reportedly told a close friend that he had “made a mistake” hours before he was found dead in his hostel room on the institute’s Powai campus, said sources.
According to sources, Wakode spoke to his close friend over the phone at around 2:30 pm on the day of his death. This was reportedly their last conversation, after which he did not respond to her calls.
What Did Sahil Tell His Friend?
Sources, quoting the friend’s statement to investigators, said Wakode told her, “I made a mistake. My Thermodynamics paper also did not go well, and now this has happened.”
The 22-year-old was a second-year student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. He was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room last Friday, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.
Sources also said that Wakode did not make any caste-related remarks or mention any caste-related incident during his conversation with his friend.
The friend was later questioned by investigators and her statement was recorded as part of the ongoing probe. She reportedly suffered a panic attack after learning about Wakode’s death.
IIT Bombay Withdraws Earlier Statement
The development comes amid controversy over the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death. Earlier, IIT Bombay had linked the student’s death to alleged use of ChatGPT during an examination.
On Monday, the institute withdrew its earlier comments and apologised, stating that the circumstances leading to Wakode’s death were still under investigation.
The institute said it was inappropriate to characterise events preceding his death before they had been established through the appropriate investigative process.
Caste Discrimination Allegations
Wakode’s parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, have alleged that their son had faced caste-based discrimination and slurs. They have sought the arrest of IIT Bombay Director Shirish Kedare and Professor Suryanarayan Doolla.
Doolla, who was reportedly serving as an invigilator during the examination and had reported the alleged mobile phone use to institute authorities, has been named in the FIR. The case includes allegations of abetment to suicide on grounds of caste discrimination and invokes provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Doolla was removed as Dean of Administrative Affairs following protests by students and political activists.
Students, Faculty Rally In Support Of Professor Doolla
Hundreds of IIT Bombay students staged a demonstration on campus on Tuesday in support of Professor Doolla.
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum also organised a campus march in his support. The forum said Doolla was performing his duties as an invigilator when he reported an alleged incident of academic malpractice involving unauthorised smartphone use, in accordance with Senate-approved guidelines.
Police Appeal Against Speculation
The Mumbai Police on Wednesday appealed to the public and media to refrain from speculation, misinformation and premature conclusions regarding Wakode’s alleged suicide.
The IIT Bombay Alumni Association has also called for a fair and speedy investigation and urged that there should be no “media trial” or speculation against individuals.
Meanwhile, IIT Bombay has constituted a 10-member high-level committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death.
Read:
IIT Bombay Set Up Panel to Look Into Student’s Suicide
IIT Bombay Student Suicide: Institute Plans Twin-Sharing Hostels Across All Years
