Rahul Gandhi Supports Family of Deceased IIT Bombay Student

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi held a video call with the parents of Sahil Wakode, a second-year IIT Bombay student who died by suicide on September 18. Gandhi assured the parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, of his full support in their pursuit of justice.

Wakode was found hanging in his hostel room shortly after he was allegedly caught using ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is investigating the death, and an FIR has been filed against faculty member Suryanarayan Doolla for abetment to suicide and caste-based discrimination. Doolla has been placed on leave to facilitate the probe.

On September 24, the parents began an indefinite hunger strike at the IIT Bombay gate. Simultaneously, Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad and members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) were detained by police while protesting for an independent judicial inquiry. Gaikwad described the incident as an institutional death and accused the ruling BJP and RSS of infiltrating the education system with casteism and communalism.

IIT Bombay has issued a formal apology regarding statements made in a previous communication about the circumstances of the death. The Youth Congress is scheduled to hold a press conference to announce further actions.