Mumbai: Ravindra Wakode, the father of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode who died by suicide four days ago, has demanded the arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and Director Shireesh Kedare.
Sahil’s parents reiterated the allegation that their son faced caste-based harassment and sustained pressure before his death.
The 22-year-old second-year BTech student in Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room on September 18, hours after he was caught cheating in an exam.
Speaking to the media, Sahil’s father, Ravindra Wakode, said,
“My son was studying at IIT, and then I got a call that he had committed suicide. Director Kedare and Suryanarayana Doolla should be arrested,” Ravindra Wakode told the media on Tuesday.
He alleged that his son had been facing pressure from Doolla since last year.
“He was tortured, that should be investigated… I trust the crime branch. Doolla and Kedare should be arrested, my son was being targeted and casteism slurs were used against him… he was threatened that he would be targeted and action will be taken,” he said.
The family claimed that Sahil had spoken to his father about caste-based remarks.
“My son had told me on the 13th (about casteist slurs) when I visited him. Doolla would say that he is upper caste and my son is from lower caste. I told him that IIT is very difficult to get admission to and to somehow manage,” Ravindra said.
Sahil’s mother Sonali Wakode spoke about her pain.
“I have lost my child. I know the pain I am going through. Please give justice to my son. Please ensure justice for the atrocities committed against him. Why is it that Dalit students are the ones committing suicide? 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,” Sonali lamented.
#WATCH | Mumbai: On the IIT Bombay suicide case, deceased Sahil Wakode’s mother, Sonali Wakode, says, “I have lost my child. I know the pain I am going through. Please give justice to my son. Please ensure justice for the atrocities committed against him. Why is it that Dalit… https://t.co/GsuXDr4J9S pic.twitter.com/CltDS4lfTP
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2026
The FIR registered following the father’s complaint has named Doolla and other officials of the institute, and invoked provisions related to abetment to suicide and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
IIT Bombay has denied caste-based discrimination on campus.
Professor Doolla is likely to be called for questioning soon.
