IIT Bombay administration accepted an 18-point demand charter after students protested Sahil Wakode’s death. Director Professor Shirish Kedare held discussions with the protesters and accepted their demands. The meeting took place late Sunday night, September 20, on the campus.
Students had protested for three days after 20-year-old Energy Science student Sahil Wakode died inside his hostel room. During the discussion, students raised several concerns and demanded action from the institute.
Students demand action and independent investigation
The institute administration reportedly signed the 18-point charter presented by students. One major demand involved action against faculty member Professor Suryanarayan Dulla.
Following the demand, IIT Bombay suspended Professor Dulla on September 20 evening. The administration is expected to announce detailed implementation plans during the upcoming open house meeting.
Students also demanded a public apology from the institute regarding a LinkedIn post about Sahil. They called the information partial and misleading. Furthermore, they sought an independent investigation into Sahil’s death.
The students requested an interim investigation report by September 30. They also asked for the final report by October 15.
Additionally, their demands included a faculty code of conduct. They also sought 24-hour psychiatrist availability at the campus hospital. The students requested improved counselling services and greater student participation in important institutional decisions.
The protesters warned that failure to complete their demands within one month could lead to resignations from the director, associate dean, and dean of student affairs.
Sahil Wakode death case and action against professor
Sahil Wakode, an Energy Science department student, was found dead in his hostel room on September 18. The institute stated that officials caught Sahil allegedly using a mobile phone for cheating during an examination.
Soon after the incident, reports of Sahil’s death emerged. However, Sahil’s father Ravindra Wakode alleged that Professor Suryanarayan Dulla had allegedly used caste-based abuses against him for around three months.
His father also alleged that the professor threatened to falsely implicate Sahil. Following this, Ravindra Wakode filed an FIR at Powai Police Station.
After the FIR, Powai Police registered a case against Professor Dulla under abetment of suicide and the SC/ST Act. Professor Dulla teaches at IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering and has worked with the institute for over a decade.
Meanwhile, IIT Bombay removed him from his position. The Crime Branch is investigating the matter after the police action.
