Sahil Wakode's parents move Bombay HC seeking CBI or SIT probe into IIT Bombay student's death

The death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode has reached the Bombay High Court. His parents have filed a petition seeking a fair and independent investigation into their son's death. They want the probe handed to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The petition has been filed by Sahil's father, Ravindra Wakode, and mother, Sonali Wakode, through advocate Hitendra Gandhi. Sahil was 20 and in the second year of his BTech at IIT Bombay. He died on September 18.

The parents have made a serious allegation in the petition that Sahil took the extreme step of ending his life, fed up with caste discrimination and humiliation. They also claim the police are not investigating the case as seriously as had been hoped.

According to the petition, Sahil faced casteist remarks from some professors and from the supervisor present during an examination. The parents have also accused Professor Suryanarayana Dulla of making a casteist remark about Sahil. The petition says he was present as supervisor at the examination held on September 18.

The petition makes another significant claim. According to the parents, after Sahil got a room at IIT, he wanted to put up a picture of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. His roommates, however, advised him that doing so could expose him to caste discrimination.

The petition also says that when Sahil told this to his family at home, his parents too advised him not to put up the picture, to avoid any controversy.

The parents have also asked the court to direct the IIT administration to preserve all CCTV footage related to the case. They have further asked that care be taken to ensure no pressure is put on the students or professors who were present at the time of the incident.

Earlier, Powai police had registered a case on the parents' complaint for abetment of suicide and other related offences. The petition now also demands that the investigation be conducted under the supervision of a retired judge. All eyes are now on what stand the High Court takes in the matter.