Sahil Wakode's parents have demanded the arrest of IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare and professor Suryanarayana Doolla, alleging that he faced caste-based discrimination.
Sahil's father, Ravindra Wakode and mother, Sonali Wakode, visited the Crime Branch office in Mumbai on Monday. Speaking to the media, Ravindra Wakode rejected the allegations of cheating.
"I came to the Crime Branch today. My request to everyone is to complete the investigation as soon as possible and arrest those who are involved, namely Shireesh Kedare and Suryanarayana Doolla. He was a smart student. Cracking the IIT Advanced exam is not a trivial matter. You can look at his All India rank. They will accuse him of anything wrong; they will say that he cheated. My request is to arrest them," he said.
Rabindra Wakode further claimed that Sahil was suffering, but he explained to him to tolerate a bit for a bright future ahead. Expressing regret, he said, "I made a mistake by telling him this."
Sahil's mother, Sonali Wakode, said that they visited him on September 13. She claimed that Sahil had told them about the caste slurs, but they offered only moral support, which she called a mistake.
"We supported him mentally, telling him, 'Your future is bright, son; just endure this, that was our mistake. If we had taken him away that day, my child would be alive today. I trust the Crime Branch. I have full faith in the administration and in the Constitution. My child will get justice. When we went to visit him on the 13th, inside his room, he told me, "Papa, I am being tortured a bit; they are hurling casteist slurs at me." We offered him moral support. That was a mistake on our part. I earnestly request you to ensure my child gets justice," she said.
Accusing professor Doolla of making casteist remarks, Ravindra said, "My son had told me on the 13th, when I visited him, I told him that IIT is very difficult and somehow manage. Doolla would say that he is upper caste and you are of lower caste."
He alleged that Sahil was facing pressure from Doolla since last year.
Faculty forum chief rejects casteist remarks
IIT Bombay Faculty Forum president Rajkumar S Pant defended Professor Doolla, rejecting allegations of casteist remarks. A report by India Today cited Prof Pant arguing that Doolla was simply carrying out his duties as invigilator. "Our colleague was simply discharging his duties," he was quoted in the report as saying.
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He stressed that the enquiry must be completed before any conclusion. On Caste-based discrimination, Prof Pant said, He also said there was no confirmed evidence of caste-related remarks by Doolla. "There is absolutely no proof. There is absolutely no confirmation of any caste remarks made by him anywhere," Professor Pant said.
"Let the inquiry be completed, let the facts come out, and then everything will be automatically clear," he added.