States » WestPosted at: Sep 22 2026 3:04PM


IIT-Bombay student suicide case: Crime Branch traces last movements through CCTV footage

Mumbai, Sep 22 (UNI) The CCTV footage from the IIT-Bombay campus has emerged as a "key piece of evidence" in the investigation into the death of 22-year-old BTech student Sahil Ravindra Wakode, who allegedly died by suicide on September 18, officials said.
Wakode, a second-year student of the Energy Science and Engineering department and a native of Yavatmal, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his room at Hostel No. 4 on the IIT-Bombay campus at Powai.
According to the institute's initial statement, Wakode had been caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination and uploading the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.
Examination supervisor Professor Suryanarayan Dulla reportedly questioned him and told him that the incident would not affect his career. The institute had also clarified that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him.
Therefore, the CCTV footage from classrooms and lobbies on September 18 is now being examined by the police.
Based on preliminary information, footage from the examination hall shows Wakode bending slightly and looking at something in his pocket between around 12.30 pm and 12.45 pm, shortly before the examination ended at 1 pm. The footage reportedly shows the professor questioning him and taking him away from the other students.
Investigators have also examined CCTV footage covering the route from the examination hall to the hostel.
According to the probe, Wakode reached his hostel room at around 1.25 pm after leaving the examination hall. Police said the footage does not show him coming out of the room again. His body was subsequently found after the room was opened.
The investigation is being transferred from Powai police to the Mumbai Crime Branch. A team led by ACP Dharmveer Bansode conducted a detailed search of Wakode's hostel room on Monday and prepared a panchnama. Investigators are also checking whether he left behind any note.
Police further stated that no suicide note has so far been recovered, while his mobile phone and other digital devices have been seized for examination.
Wakode belonged to a Scheduled Caste community. Following his death, his parents alleged that he had faced caste discrimination, harassment and pressure.
A complaint was subsequently lodged, leading to registration of an FIR under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to abetment of suicide, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The complaint names Professor Dulla, the director and other officials.
The student's parents had also protested against the delay in taking his body to the hospital after the incident.
The student's death triggered protests by students on the campus. Following the protests, IIT-Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare agreed to 18 demands raised by the students, including an independent inquiry into the incident, strengthening of mental-health services and improvements in the grievance-redressal mechanism.
Meanwhile, the institute also removed Professor Dulla from his position as Dean with immediate effect and expressed regret over its earlier statement concerning the incident.
However, the IIT-Bombay faculty association has decided to support Dulla. The Crime Branch investigation is now expected to examine the CCTV footage, digital evidence and other material to establish the circumstances leading up to Wakode's death.
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