Sahil Wakode death case: IIT Bombay swaps ceiling fans for wall-mounted ones in hostel

The investigation into the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode has picked up pace. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is scanning CCTV footage from the exam hall to the hostel. Meanwhile, IIT Bombay has started removing ceiling fans in the hostel and replacing them with wall-mounted fans.

The investigation has found that CCTV footage from the exam hall between 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm is turning out to be key evidence in the case. The footage shows Professor Suryanarayan Dulla talking to Sahil and asking him to step out of the exam hall.

Police are now piecing together all available CCTV footage from the exam hall, campus and hostel to establish the full sequence of events, from Sahil leaving the exam hall to reaching the hostel and what happened after that.

Sahil was a second-year student in the Energy Science and Engineering department at IIT Bombay. He was found dead in his hostel room on September 18. Earlier, the institute had alleged that a mobile phone was found with him in the exam hall and that he had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT. The institute had said he was counselled and that this would not affect his academic career.

Following the incident, IIT Bombay has begun replacing ceiling fans in the hostel with wall-mounted fans. The first batch of new fans has already reached the campus and the replacement work has begun. The institute has said this work is part of a hostel renovation that was already planned. Sahil's body was found in a room in Hostel 4, after which discussions have also begun around hostel security and student safety.

Sahil's family has filed a police complaint levelling serious allegations against Professor Suryanarayan Dulla. Based on this complaint, it has emerged that the Mumbai Police are set to register a case against Dulla for abetment of suicide and under the SC/ST Act. These allegations are part of the investigation and will only be established once the probe agencies conclude their findings.

On September 21, IIT Bombay removed Dulla from his administrative post. Reports differ on the exact action taken against his administrative role and his standing as faculty. The faculty forum has clarified that he has only been removed from administrative responsibilities.

The Crime Branch is currently examining the full sequence of events leading up to Sahil's death. Efforts are on to piece together a complete timeline by combining CCTV footage from the exam hall, campus movement and the hostel. Investigating agencies are also looking into the allegations made by Sahil's family and the institute's response. The further investigation and information emerging from the CCTV footage are being seen as crucial to the case.