- Sahil Wakode admitted "mistake" to girlfriend in last call.
- No mention of caste discrimination during the phone conversation.
- Professor Doolla sent on leave amid ongoing suicide probe.
A fresh detail has emerged in the IIT Bombay student suicide case, where the 22-year-old student made a last call to his alleged girlfriend after reaching his hostel room, admitting that he had made a “mistake,” reported CNN-News18.
This comes after the 22-year-old IIT Bombay student, identified as Sahil Ravindra Wakode, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his room in Hostel No. 4 on the Powai campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay on Friday evening, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone and ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.
Wakode, a native of Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, was a second-year BTech student in the Energy Science and Engineering department.
His family has alleged that Wakode was subjected to institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination before his death. These allegations triggered campus protests, with students claiming that Wakode had faced severe academic pressure and threats of suspension. The case was transferred to the Crime Branch on Saturday night.
What He Told His Girlfriend?
According to CNN-News18, citing police sources, Wakode did not step out of his room past 1:30 PM on Friday, adding that the investigation so far has revealed that he spoke to his girlfriend at 2:30 PM and admitted that he had made a “mistake.”
“Mujhse galti ho gayi hai (I have made a mistake),” he said, adding, “My earlier thermodynamics paper didn’t go well, and now this has happened.”
Officials have suggested that he could have been stressed. His girlfriend asked him to stay calm and patient, urging him to focus on his next papers.
Police officials said that Wakode made no mention of any caste-related conversation during the phone call. They believe that this was his last phone call with his girlfriend, after which he stopped taking calls.
IIT Bombay Prof Doolla Sent on Leave
IIT Bombay Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who has been accused in the alleged suicide of student Sahil Wakode, was sent on leave on Wednesday to facilitate an impartial probe into the case.
This comes after Wakode's mother claimed he had told them that he was tortured, abused, and humiliated based on his caste. His parents have demanded the immediate arrest of IIT Bombay Director Professor Shirish Kedare and Prof. Doolla. A case on charges of suicide abetment and caste discrimination has been registered against Doolla.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay on Monday removed Doolla as the Dean of Administrative Affairs following protests over the student's suicide. Prof. Doolla has been sent on leave to enable an impartial probe, with no classes currently underway.
The Mumbai Crime Branch is currently investigating Wakode's death.