Sahil Wakode's parents to protest at IIT Bombay after 21-day sit-in at Azad Maidan

The parents of Sahil Wakode, who have been on a sit-in at Azad Maidan for 21 days, are now preparing to take their agitation to IIT Bombay. Sahil was found dead last month in his hostel room at the institute's Powai campus. The family says it wants answers on the death of their son and that responsibility must be fixed.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Sahil's father Ravindra Wakode said he and his wife Sonali had written to the authorities but received no reply from anywhere. They have now asked the Chief Minister to intervene. Ravindra said the family was planning to hold a protest at IIT Bombay.

The parents have also questioned the report of the institute's internal committee. They allege the report may be biased and could interfere with the ongoing police investigation. Ravindra said, "We have lost faith in the police, and we demand that the investigating officer be changed."

Student organisations have said they will continue protesting in support of Sahil, even at the risk of being detained by the police. Samayya Korde said, "It says a lot that the police did not detain those named as accused in the FIR, but detained the students." The student organisations have resolved that their protest will go on as long as the family keeps seeking answers and demanding a change in the investigation. IIT Bombay has not commented on the matter.

The family and its legal team have sought an explanation for an alleged gap in the CCTV footage. They have also demanded a record of all calls Sahil made between his examination and his death.

The family's lawyer, Siddharth Ingle, alleged that Sahil was taken to the head of department's room and that other professors were later called there. He questioned whether this was in line with IIT Bombay's standard operating procedure.

Ingle said, "We have learnt that Sahil was taken to the HOD's room and more professors were called. This was not in IITB's SOP. Besides, we can also assume that Sahil's phone was tampered with, because it was with the professor."