Mumbai Crime Branch has assumed control of the investigation into the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, 22, who was found dead in his hostel room on 18 September 2026. Investigators are conducting a technical analysis of his seized mobile phone, seeking a suicide note or other digital evidence, as no such note was recovered from the room at Hostel No. 4 on the Powai campus.

State of the Investigation

An ACP-rank officer is leading the probe. Investigators are simultaneously inspecting the crime scene and are expected to issue summons to individuals named in the First Information Report — including course instructor Professor Suryanarayan Dula — for questioning. The case has been registered under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for alleged abetment of suicide, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Family's Allegations of Caste-Based Harassment

Wakode's parents have alleged that their son faced caste-based harassment and mental harassment by faculty members in the months leading up to his death. The inclusion of SC/ST Act provisions in the FIR signals that investigators are treating these allegations as a live line of inquiry. Wakode was reportedly caught using a mobile phone and ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination on 18 September 2026 — hours before he was found dead.

IIT Bombay Administration Apologises, Standoff Continues

IIT Bombay issued an apology over its earlier communication, stating: 'We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil. The details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities. In view of the ongoing investigation, it was inappropriate to have set out or characterised details relating to the events preceding his demise before they had been duly established through the appropriate investigative process.' Despite this apology, the administration and protesting students and parents appeared headed for a standoff as of Monday, 21 September 2026, with both sides maintaining strong positions over the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Faculty Forum Backs Professor Dula

The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum expressed deep grief over Wakode's death and condolences to his family, while simultaneously extending its full solidarity to Professor Dula. The Forum stated that Professor Dula had reported the examination irregularity — the student's possession and use of a smartphone without permission during the mid-term exam held from 11 am to 1 pm on 18 September 2026 — to institute authorities in accordance with academic policies approved by the institution's Senate. The Forum also expressed concern over reputational damage to a faculty member who, it argued, was performing his official duties within established procedures.

Broader Context and What Comes Next

The case has drawn national attention to the intersection of academic disciplinary procedures, caste-based discrimination allegations, and student mental health at elite institutions. This is not an isolated incident — student deaths at IITs have periodically triggered calls for structural reform in how institutes handle both academic misconduct and the welfare of students from marginalised communities. Summons to named individuals and the forensic analysis of Wakode's phone are expected to be the next decisive steps in determining the direction of the investigation.