The Mumbai Crime Branch has recorded statements from more than 40 people in its investigation into the death of 22-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during an examination last month.
Police said on Tuesday that Wakode had submitted a written apology to the institute after the incident. In the statement, the second-year BTech student reportedly said he had not prepared adequately for the paper, acknowledged his mistake and sought a second chance.
Wakode was found dead in his hostel room on the evening of September 18, according to the police account cited in the report. The examination was a mid-semester test, and police said he had allegedly used his mobile phone to access ChatGPT during the paper.
The investigation has included statements from IIT Bombay director Shireesh Kedare and professor Suryanarayana Doolla. Doolla has been named as an accused in a First Information Report registered by Powai police following a complaint by Wakode’s father, Ravindra Wakode.
Wakode’s parents have alleged that their son faced harassment and caste-based discrimination at the institute. Doolla has denied the allegations in his statement to the police, according to the report. The police investigation is examining the circumstances surrounding the student’s death and the complaints made by his family.
The student’s parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, began a hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on September 24. Their protest is seeking justice for their son and the arrest of Doolla and IIT Bombay director Shireesh Kedare, according to the report.
The case places attention on how educational institutions respond to academic misconduct, student distress and complaints of harassment. The police disclosure of the written apology provides a new detail in the investigation, but it does not by itself establish the circumstances that led to Wakode’s death or determine responsibility. Those questions remain subject to the ongoing inquiry.
The Crime Branch’s next steps include continuing to examine statements from institute officials and other people connected with the case. The FIR against Doolla remains under investigation, while the allegations made by Wakode’s parents and the professor’s denial will be considered as part of the police process.
