Sahil Wakode death case: what he told a friend in his last phone call

The investigation into the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode has intensified, with agencies scrutinising who he was in contact with and what he did in the last hours before his death. Sources have now revealed what was said in his final phone call with a friend.

According to sources, Sahil spoke on the phone with a woman friend around 2:30 pm before his death. He is said to have expressed distress during the call over his exam and an incident he had faced. However, the call did not contain any remark or direct reference relating to caste or the incident.

Sources said Sahil told his friend on the call, "I made a mistake. My thermodynamics paper also did not go well, and now this has happened." The friend then advised him to stay calm and be patient, and to focus on preparing for his next paper. Investigating officers have recorded this friend's statement. According to her, this was the last conversation with Sahil, after which he did not respond to her calls. The friend also clarified that Sahil made no remark about caste or the alleged incident during this conversation.

A case was initially registered at Powai police station after Sahil's death, which was later transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch. The case is registered as DCB CID CR No. 124/2026. The Crime Branch is currently examining CCTV footage, digital evidence and the statements of those concerned.

Mumbai Police have appealed to the public not to spread rumours or misinformation during the investigation and not to jump to conclusions. Police said a fair and thorough investigation would be carried out to ensure justice.

On Tuesday, Sahil's father demanded the immediate arrest of the two accused named in the FIR, though he said the family only wanted a fair investigation and justice. A separate inquiry into the allegations made by the family is under way, so these cannot be treated as final until the investigation is complete.

After Professor Suryanarayan Dulla's name came up in the case, IIT Bombay has sent him on leave during the investigation. He had earlier been removed from the post of Dean of Administrative Affairs. A case has been registered against Dulla on charges of abetting Sahil's suicide and caste-based discrimination; these allegations are still under investigation and no final finding has been reached.

Following Sahil's death, IIT Bombay's Board of Governors has set up a 10-member high-level committee comprising professors, administrative officials, students and psychiatric experts. The committee has been asked to submit its report within a week. It is being chaired by Professor Ramesh Venkateswaran, chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT Palakkad. The Mumbai Crime Branch is working to establish the full sequence of events leading up to Sahil's death.