Mumbai, Sep 24 (PTI) Youth Congress national president Uday Bhanu Chib on Thursday demanded the immediate arrest of the IIT Bombay director and another professor in connection with the alleged suicide of student Sahil Wakode, while also seeking an impartial probe into the case.
Wakode had faced caste-based and mental harassment at the institute. He was subjected to baseless allegations, which led him to take the extreme step, Chib alleged at a press conference here.
Wakode (22), a second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay, was found hanging in his hostel room on September 18 evening, hours after being caught allegedly using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination. His parents have alleged caste-based discrimination and harassment, while the institute has disputed the charges.
Prof Suryanarayana Doolla was removed as the institute’s dean of administrative affairs earlier this week and sent on leave following protests by students.
Chib alleged the role of IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare and Prof Doolla in the case and demanded their arrest, saying an inquiry conducted by the institute itself could not be impartial.
Three students died by suicide at the institute in the past seven months, he claimed and demanded that data from Wakode’s laptop, mobile phone and other electronic devices, which he said were with the Crime Branch, be provided to his family at the earliest.
“The Youth Congress will continue its fight until Sahil gets justice,” Chib said.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has spoken to Wakode’s parents over the phone, expressed his condolences and assured them that the Congress would continue to work for justice for their son, he added.
Mumbai Youth Congress president Zeenat Shabreen claimed Wakode was a bright student and that allegations of copying made against him were baseless.
The institute had later withdrawn the allegation and apologised, she said.
Shabreen claimed that several students had complained of caste-based harassment at IIT Bombay, but were now being prevented from speaking about it and were facing pressure and threats concerning their careers.
A Youth Congress delegation led by Chib also met Mumbai Joint Commissioner of Police Manojkumar Sharma and sought immediate action against those allegedly responsible for Wakode’s death.
(PTI News)
