IIT Bombay suicide case: Crime Branch records 40 statements, probes devices

The Mumbai Crime Branch has recorded the statements of 40 people so far in its probe into the alleged suicide of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, a police official said on Wednesday.

The statements include those of his parents, fellow students, hostel staff and others, while investigators are also examining his electronic devices for clues about the events leading up to his death.advertisement❮❯ Read Full StoryPARENTS ALLEGE CASTE DISCRIMINATIONThe case has also drawn attention because Wakode's parents, who have been on a hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai for the past three days, have alleged caste discrimination against their son. They have demanded the arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and IIT Bombay Director Shirish Kedare, and sought justice for their son.

According to the official, the Crime Branch has not yet recorded the statement of Professor Doolla, who has been booked for abetment of suicide. An FIR had earlier been registered by the Powai police against him on the basis of a complaint filed by Wakode's father.

In his statement to the police, Wakode's father alleged that during their last meeting, his son told him that Professor Doolla had been subjecting him to casteist abuse for the past three months at the instance of Kedare. He also alleged that his son had expressed fear of being implicated in a false case.

Investigators have sent two mobile phones, a laptop and a tablet belonging to Wakode to the Forensic Science Laboratory at Kalina to decode and unlock the devices. Police expect crucial evidence to emerge once the digital contents are retrieved, which could help establish the exact sequence of events before the death.

Police said they were continuing to examine all circumstances, statements and technical evidence linked to the incident.

Wakode, 22, a second-year BTech student, was found hanging in his hostel room on the evening of September 18, hours after he was caught allegedly using his mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.

IIT Bombay's board had earlier set up a 10-member committee to enquire into the circumstances surrounding his death.- EndsRead | IIT Bombay has no ST professor, 6 OBC and 5 SC professors, RTI showsRead | My IIT, My Story: What IIT Bombay really looks like beyond the classroom