New CCTV footage has emerged, shedding light on the events that transpired shortly before the death of Sahil Wakode, a second-year student at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay). The footage reportedly captures an incident involving Wakode and Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, where the student was allegedly confronted over the use of ChatGPT during an examination.
CCTV Details Reveal Exam Confrontation
The surveillance video, covering the period between 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm on the day of the incident, shows Wakode reportedly bending slightly and looking into his pocket while in the examination hall. Moments later, Professor Doolla is seen questioning Wakode and then escorting him away from other students. According to reports, Wakode was subsequently observed leaving the examination area.
Further footage from the hostel lobby indicates that Wakode entered his room around 1:25 pm. He did not leave the room thereafter and was later found to have died by suicide.
Ongoing Police Investigation
The Crime Branch team, led by ACP Dharamveer Bansod, is actively investigating the case, with the newly surfaced CCTV footage deemed crucial evidence. Investigators recently searched Wakode’s hostel room and conducted a panchnama. While no suicide note has been found to date, officials are proceeding cautiously, mindful of a previous IIT student suicide case where a note was initially overlooked.
The Crime Branch has also secured other materials from Wakode’s room and is in the process of gathering paperwork from the Powai police, who initially registered the First Information Report (FIR). The Powai police had filed a case under charges of abetment to suicide and relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, reportedly naming Professor Doolla among others.
Ravindra Wakode, Sahil's father, has publicly alleged that Professor Doolla subjected his son to caste-based discrimination for three months, purportedly acting on instructions from the IIT-Bombay director. These serious allegations form a significant part of the ongoing inquiry.