IIT-Bombay student representatives say protest not a defence of misconduct; parents allege caste harassment
The parents of an IIT-Bombay student who died by suicide have alleged caste-based harassment, leading to an FIR against a professor. Meanwhile, student representatives have clarified that their protests are focused on systemic accountability rather than defending academic misconduct.
Why it matters
The case underscores the critical issue of mental health and systemic discrimination within elite educational institutions in India.
The parents of Sahil Wakode, a second-year student at the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, who ended his life on Friday (September 18, 2026) , have alleged that he faced caste-based harassment on campus and that the institution “finished” their son.
Ravindra Wakode, his father, said the family had been able to reach till this position after a lot of struggle and demanded justice for his son. Mumbai Police registered a First Information Report on his complaint, naming Professor Suryanarayana Doolla under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , which relates to abetment of suicide, and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in