Parents of a 22-year-old IIT Bombay student who died by suicide hours after he was caught using ChatGPT during an examination have alleged that he faced caste-based abuse, threats and harassment over the past three months at the direction of institute Director Shireesh B Kedare, media reports said.
Denying that their son could have chosen to end his life, his father told The Indian Express, “This is a case of caste discrimination. We took efforts to put our son in this institute which has failed us. It is because of their torture that we have lost our only child. We demand justice. We will raise our complaint to the national capital.”
Sahil Wakode’s mother also expressed a similar view in an interview with NDTV, saying, “My son has been killed.”
“He was severely harassed. I want justice,” she added.
Ravindra Chakradhar Wankhade, Sahil’s father, has filed a formal complaint in connection with his son’s death, hours after the incident came to light.
According to the complaint, Sahil studied in Yavatmal until Class 12 before securing admission to IIT Bombay.
The complaint alleges that the student was subjected to severe mental harassment and casteist slurs over the past three months.
It specifically names Professor Suryanarayan Dulla, who was also the invigilator during the examination in which Sahil was allegedly caught using a mobile phone, and alleges that he hurled caste-based abuses at the student at the direction of Director Shireesh B Kedare, NDTV reported.
Following the complaint, a case of abetment to suicide and joint liability has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
A separate case has also been registered under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, in connection with allegations of intentionally insulting or intimidating a person with the intent to humiliate a member of an SC/ST community.
Earlier, IIT Bombay said in a statement that no disciplinary action had been initiated against the student.
“The matter was also discussed with the student by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career,” the institute said, according to NDTV.
“The circumstances surrounding the death are being looked into by the appropriate authorities,” the statement added.
The student’s death triggered protests on the IIT Bombay campus, with students demanding a transparent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The protesters also called for the resignation of IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare, alleging that Sahil had been threatened with suspension after being caught using a mobile phone during the examination.
“It is impossible to believe that the student was exempted from disciplinary action. We are not saying that there should not be any disciplinary action if a student is actually found in violation of norms. But this has to have been dealt with in a sensitive manner. Professors and staff need to be sensitised in matters related to students. An insensitive remark can definitely have a severe impact,” a student told The Indian Express.
