2 hrs ago
CCTV Review Intensifies Probe Into IIT Bombay Student Death
Sahil Ravindra Wakode was a second-year student at IIT Bombay who died by suicide.
Police are studying security-camera recordings to understand what happened before his death.
The recordings show part of his exam on September 18.
Police say he appeared to look at something in his pocket.
Professor Suryanarayana Doolla then questioned him and took him away from the other students.
Police say Sahil later reached his hostel room and did not leave.
Some students and faculty disagree about how the incident should be understood.
Sahil’s family alleges caste-based harassment and wants a more extensive investigation.
Mumbai Police Crime Branch is examining CCTV footage from IIT Bombay’s exam hall, campus and hostel.
The footage covers Sahil Ravindra Wakode’s movements between 12:30 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. on September 18.
Police say Wakode appeared to look at something in his pocket before Professor Suryanarayana Doolla questioned and took him aside.
Wakode reportedly reached his hostel room around 1:25 p.m. and did not leave before being found dead later that day.
Students, faculty and Wakode’s family have expressed differing views about the incident, investigation and academic-misconduct allegations.
- Who
- Sahil Ravindra Wakode, Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, the Mumbai Police Crime Branch led by ACP Dharamveer Bansod, IIT Bombay students and faculty, and Wakode’s family.
- What
- Police are examining CCTV footage and reconstructing Wakode’s movements before his death by suicide.
- Where
- IIT Bombay’s examination hall, campus and hostel.
- When
- The relevant footage was recorded between 12:30 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. on September 18; Wakode reached his hostel around 1:25 p.m. and was found dead later that day.
- Why
- The footage is being reviewed to establish the sequence of events after Wakode was allegedly observed looking at something in his pocket during an exam.
Student and Family Concerns
Institute and Faculty Position
How the incident should be investigated
Student and Family Concerns
Student representatives sought institutional reforms and asked that Doolla be relieved of his administrative duties during the investigation as a precaution, while Wakode’s family sought a thorough probe and alleged caste-based harassment.
Institute and Faculty Position
IIT Bombay’s Faculty Forum supported Doolla, saying he acted under Senate-approved academic policies and followed the institute’s procedure for reporting alleged academic malpractice.
Doolla’s role during the exam
Student and Family Concerns
Students said they had not presumed Doolla’s guilt but wanted him removed from his administrative duties while the investigation continued.
Institute and Faculty Position
The Faculty Forum said Doolla was invigilating when he saw a student using a smartphone without authorisation and reported it to institute authorities.
Status of the CCTV footage
Student and Family Concerns
Reports described footage showing Doolla questioning Wakode and taking him aside or asking him to leave the examination hall.
Institute and Faculty Position
The Crime Branch said the footage had not been released or shown to anyone and was still being examined by investigators.
Key facts
- Student
- Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering
- Footage window
- 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. on September 18
- Scheduled exam
- The mid-semester examination was scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Hostel arrival
- Approximately 1:25 p.m., according to the Crime Branch
- Investigation
- Mumbai Police Crime Branch, led by ACP Dharamveer Bansod
- Professor
- Suryanarayana Doolla, identified as the course instructor and invigilator
- Family’s demands
- A thorough probe, including a CBI inquiry, access to CCTV and other evidence, and action over alleged caste-based harassment
Quotes
Mumbai Police Crime Branch official
Official involved in the investigation into Sahil Ravindra Wakode’s death
“After leaving the examination hall, Sahil moved across the campus. He reached his hostel room at approximately 1:25 PM. He did not step out of the room thereafter”
republicworld.com
A source
An unnamed source describing CCTV coverage of the IIT campus incident
“There are CCTV cameras in the classrooms and lobbies in the IIT campus that have captured the incident which took place in the exam hall.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
Related news
IIT Bombay Student Dies After ChatGPT Exam Incident; FIR Filed
IIT Bombay Student Death Leads to FIR, Crime Branch Probe
IIT Bombay Student Death After Exam Phone Incident Sparks Protests
IIT Bombay Student Sahil Wakode’s Final Rites Held
IIT Bombay Student Death Sparks Dispute Over Caste Abuse Claims
IIT Bombay Student Death After ChatGPT Exam Sparks Protests
IIT Bombay Tensions Rise After Student’s Death
IIT Bombay Students Seek Reforms, Clarify Cheating and Doolla Stance
Parents of IIT Bombay Suicide Victims Demand Answers for Sahil
IIT-Delhi Faculty Defends Professor Doolla After Student Suicide
