Sahil Wakode's Family Demands CM Intervention in IIT Bombay Case
The family of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode seeks action from Maharashtra's Chief Minister following his tragic death by suicide.
Sahil Wakode's parents have been protesting for over two weeks, demanding justice.
Concerns have been raised about the police investigation and the timing of statements from involved faculty.
Students are calling for an independent inquiry and accountability from the institute's administration.
The family of Sahil Wakode, a student at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B), has formally appealed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for intervention following their son's suicide. For more than two weeks, they have been demonstrating at Azad Maidan, expressing their frustration with the police investigation's progress and the lack of responsiveness from both government officials and IIT-B representatives.
The family's lawyer, Siddharth Ingale, has raised significant concerns regarding the investigation, particularly the delayed statement from Professor Suryanarayan Doolla, who is implicated in the case. His statement was recorded 14 days post-incident, and crucial evidence, including CCTV footage and a confession letter, emerged only after this delay. This has led to increased scrutiny of the investigation's integrity and the timeline of events.
In response to police actions that dismantled a protest site at IIT-B, student protests have escalated, resulting in the establishment of a new protest area dubbed "Justice Corner 2.0" near the Ambedkar statue on campus. Students and activists are demanding an external investigation, a revamp of the inquiry committee, and the resignation of both Professor Doolla and IIT-B director Shireesh Kedare, highlighting their discontent with the current handling of the case.
The family's lawyer also questioned the legitimacy of Professor Doolla's international travel during the ongoing investigation, prompting them to seek clarification from both the Chief Minister and the Joint Commissioner of Police regarding the regulations governing such travel amid active inquiries. At a recent press conference, Wakode's father emphasized the need for transparency, stating that the institute must clarify the circumstances surrounding the professor's actions and the legitimacy of the letter he wrote.
The All India Independent Scheduled Castes Association has condemned the treatment of protesters, alleging that activists faced detention and assault during demonstrations at IIT-B's gate. They have called for action from the Maharashtra State Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, alongside demands for Professor Doolla's resignation and the removal of the institute's director. As protests continue, students assert that police actions are attempts to stifle their movement, reinforcing their demand for a transparent investigation and accountability from the authorities involved.
