Parents file petition in Bombay High Court for CBI probe into IIT student's death

The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode have filed a petition in the Bombay High Court regarding his death. They have demanded a fair and independent investigation into Sahil's death by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT). According to a report by The Hindu, this petition has been filed by Ravindra and Sonali Wakode through advocate Hitendra Gandhi.

Twenty-year-old Sahil Wakode died by suicide on September 18. Wakode's parents have alleged that their son was facing caste-based harassment. The petition alleges that the police have failed to investigate the case with seriousness, and therefore it has been demanded that the investigation be monitored by a retired judge. Earlier, based on Wakode's complaint, the Powai police had registered a case for abetment to suicide and other offences.

According to a report by the Times of India, the petition also seeks directions to the institution to secure all CCTV footage of that day. In addition, protection of witnesses has been sought to ensure that no person influences the students or faculty members who witnessed the events that occurred on that day. The petition has demanded that the investigation be directed towards the actions of the institute's authorities.

Sahil Wakode was a second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay. His parents have alleged that some faculty members and an invigilator made casteist remarks against Sahil, which led him to take this fatal step. The petition further states that caste-based remarks were made against Sahil by Professor Suryanarayan Dula, who was also present as an invigilator during the examination on September 18.

The application also mentions that when Sahil was allotted a room at IIT, he wanted to hang a picture of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. However, he was advised by his roommate not to do so as he might face caste-based discrimination. When Sahil informed his parents about this, they too advised him not to hang the photo to avoid conflict. This petition may be presented in court on Monday, October 31, 2026.