A case has been registered against IIT Bombay teacher Satyanarayan Dalla following the death of second-year student Sahil Wakode, whose body was found on the institute's Powai campus in Mumbai on Friday evening, 19 September 2026, Mumbai Police confirmed on Saturday. Wakode, a resident of Yavatmal, Maharashtra, was enrolled in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering.

What the FIR Covers

According to officials, the complaint has been lodged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, as well as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act — commonly referred to as the SC/ST Act. The case names not only teacher Dalla but also faculty members, senior officials, and other IIT Bombay authorities. Police said further investigation is underway.

Sequence of Events Before His Death

According to reports, Wakode was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during an examination by the authorities. His death reportedly occurred a few hours after that incident, triggering widespread protests by students on the Powai campus. The precise circumstances of his death are still being examined by the appropriate authorities, as stated by the institute itself.

Father Alleges Caste-Based Harassment

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Wakode's father Ravindra Wakode alleged that caste-based discrimination and sustained harassment drove his son to suicide. 'I appeal for a thorough investigation of those who pushed him towards suicide through harassment and caste-based abuse. I urge the government to ensure justice for my child by terminating those responsible for this incident,' he said.

Ravindra Wakode added that he had observed signs of distress in his son's behaviour. 'I could see it in his behaviour that because of the torture he faced, he was pushed into depression,' he said. He further stated: 'Whoever is responsible for his death must be punished severely. My only request to the government is that prompt action be taken immediately against those responsible.'

IIT Bombay's Response and Student Protests

In an official statement, IIT Bombay expressed grief over the incident and said the institute was 'extending support to the student's friends, classmates, faculty members, and others affected by this tragic incident.' The institute added that the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined by the appropriate authorities.

Separately, a group of students assembled on the Powai campus and launched protests, alleging that the administration had not disclosed all details surrounding the circumstances of Wakode's death. This comes amid a broader national conversation about the mental health of students from marginalised communities in elite academic institutions — a pattern that critics argue has gone inadequately addressed.

Broader Context

Wakode's death is not the first alleged instance of caste-related distress leading to a student fatality at a premier Indian institution. Notably, similar cases in the past at IITs and central universities have prompted demands for systemic reform in campus grievance mechanisms and anti-discrimination enforcement. The invocation of the SC/ST Act signals investigators are treating the discrimination allegations seriously. With police inquiries and campus protests both intensifying, institutional accountability will remain under sharp scrutiny in the coming days.