IIT Bombay suicide: Sahil Wakode's parents meet Rahul Gandhi, demand CBI probe
Synopsis
The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide on 18 September 2026, have met Rahul Gandhi demanding CBI action — with no arrests made nearly seven weeks after an FIR was filed. The case, which now has a Bombay High Court petition and an SC/ST Act application attached to it, is fast becoming a flashpoint over institutional accountability at India's elite campuses.
Key Takeaways
Sahil Wakode , a second-year IIT Bombay student, died by suicide on 18 September 2026 ; his family filed an FIR on 19 September .
His parents met Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on 5 November 2026 , alleging that Mumbai Police have made no arrests.
Mother Sonali Wakode demanded the arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla (former Dean, Students Welfare) and IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh B.
The family has approached the Bombay High Court seeking a CBI or SIT probe, and filed a petition under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act .
Professor Doolla was questioned for approximately 8 hours by the Mumbai Crime Branch and denied all allegations.
Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad said Gandhi also met the family of Aniket Ambore , who allegedly died by suicide at IIT Bombay in 2014 .
The parents of Sahil Wakode, the second-year student found dead on the IIT Bombay campus in September 2026, met Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday, 5 November, seeking justice for their son. The family has alleged police inaction and demanded arrests in the case, which reportedly stems from an incident where Sahil was caught using a mobile phone during an examination.
What the Family Told Rahul Gandhi
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sahil's father Ravindra Wakode said: "My son died by suicide on September 18, 2026. We filed an FIR on the 19th (of September)... yet, no arrests have been made." He alleged that the Mumbai Police have failed to conduct a serious investigation into his son's death.
Ravindra added that the family approached Gandhi after their petition to the High Court failed to yield arrests. "He spoke with us for about an hour and a half and assured us that he stands with our family," he said. Gandhi, according to the family, pledged his support to their cause.
Mother Demands Arrest of Professor and Institute Director
Sahil's mother, Sonali Wakode, escalated her demands, calling for the immediate arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla — who was earlier sacked from his post as Dean, Students Welfare at IIT Bombay — and the institute's Director, Professor Shireesh B. Kedare. "I demand that Kedare and Professor Suryanarayana Doolla be apprehended as soon as possible. My child must receive justice; no other 'Sahil' should ever have to suffer like this. A mother is crying out for justice for her child," she said.
The parents described their anguish at being unable to secure justice for their only child despite persistent legal efforts.
Legal Battle: Bombay High Court and SC/ST Act Petition
The Wakodes have pursued the matter on multiple legal fronts. They moved the Bombay High Court seeking a fair and independent investigation by either the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Separately, they filed an application before a special court hearing cases under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, seeking a court-monitored probe into Sahil's death.
Professor Doolla Questioned, Denies Allegations
The Mumbai Crime Branch recorded the statement of Professor Doolla earlier this month, questioning him for approximately eight hours. He denied all allegations levelled against him. His removal as Dean, Students Welfare, came amid the controversy surrounding Sahil's death.
Congress Flags Wider Pattern at IIT Bombay
Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad said Gandhi also met the family of Aniket Ambore on the same day — Ambore allegedly died by suicide at the IIT Bombay campus in 2014. Gaikwad confirmed that Gandhi has assured support to both grieving families, with the Congress signalling it intends to press the issue of student welfare and institutional accountability at India's premier technical institutions.
The case has reignited debate over mental health support, examination-related pressure, and caste-based discrimination within India's elite engineering campuses. The Wakode family's next legal steps and any response from the Maharashtra government will be closely watched.
Point of View
The absence of any arrest in the Sahil Wakode case raises pointed questions about the speed and seriousness of the Mumbai Police investigation — especially given the SC/ST Act dimension, which typically carries mandatory procedural obligations. Rahul Gandhi's decision to meet both the Wakode family and the Ambore family in a single sitting signals a deliberate political framing: IIT Bombay as a site of repeated, unresolved institutional failure. The real accountability deficit here is not just police inaction but the near-total absence of any official response from IIT Bombay's current administration. India's premier technical institutions have long operated with a degree of autonomy that has, in several documented cases, insulated them from consequences when student welfare systems break down — and this case is testing whether that insulation still holds.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sahil Wakode and how did he die?
Sahil Wakode was a second-year student at IIT Bombay who was found dead on the IIT Powai campus in September 2026. He reportedly died by suicide on 18 September 2026, allegedly after being caught using a mobile phone during an examination.
Why did Sahil Wakode's parents meet Rahul Gandhi?
The Wakode family met Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on 5 November 2026 to seek political support and justice after alleging that Mumbai Police have failed to make any arrests despite an FIR being filed on 19 September 2026. Gandhi reportedly assured them of his support after a meeting lasting approximately an hour and a half.
What legal action has the Wakode family taken?
The family has moved the Bombay High Court seeking a CBI or SIT-led independent investigation into Sahil's death. They have also filed a separate petition before a special court under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, seeking a court-monitored probe.
Who is Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and what is his role in this case?
Professor Suryanarayana Doolla was the Dean, Students Welfare at IIT Bombay, who was subsequently sacked from that post amid the controversy over Sahil Wakode's death. The Mumbai Crime Branch questioned him for approximately eight hours, during which he denied all allegations. Sahil's mother has demanded his arrest alongside that of IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh B. Kedare.
Is this the only student suicide case at IIT Bombay that Congress has raised?
No. Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad confirmed that Rahul Gandhi also met the family of Aniket Ambore, who allegedly died by suicide at IIT Bombay in 2014, on the same day he met the Wakodes. The Congress has signalled it will press the issue of student welfare and institutional accountability across India's premier technical institutions.
