In the ongoing investigation into the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, the Mumbai Crime Branch subjected institute professor Suryanarayan Doolla to an extensive questioning session lasting roughly 8 hours, during which his formal statement was officially recorded. The interrogation centered directly around serious complaints lodged by the deceased student's parents, who alleged that the professor had harassed and subjected their son to intense mental pressure. Crime Branch investigators questioned Professor Doolla in detail regarding the events leading up to the tragedy, the timeline preceding the death, and the exact conversations that took place between him and the student. Throughout the prolonged interrogation, Professor Doolla firmly denied all harassment allegations leveled against him.
Summons Planned for Institute Director Alongside Scrutiny of Examination Hall Footage
Widening the reach of their probe, the Mumbai Crime Branch is preparing to serve a formal summons to IIT Bombay Director Shirish Kedare to record his official statement regarding administrative oversight and institutional procedures. Concurrently, investigators are conducting a frame-by-frame analysis of CCTV footage retrieved from the examination hall. The investigative team is working to reconstruct the chronological sequence of interactions and observe Sahil Wakode's conduct during the exam hours to unearth crucial insights into the immediate triggers behind his actions. To build a comprehensive evidentiary record, the Crime Branch has questioned and recorded the depositions of 50 individuals so far, including the student's parents, batchmates, and campus associates.
Parents Stage Indefinite Hunger Strike at Azad Maidan Demanding Swift Arrests
Meanwhile, Sahil Wakode's grieving parents have been staging a hunger strike at Azad Maidan for the past 6 days, demanding accountability and criminal culpability. The core demand put forward by the family is the immediate custodial arrest of every individual named in the First Information Report. The parents are insisting on the custody of Professor Suryanarayan Doolla as well as IIT Bombay Director Shirish Kedare, declaring that they will not leave the protest venue until full justice is served. They affirmed that their hunger strike will continue without compromise until their demands are met. Earlier, Powai police had registered a case of abetment to suicide against Professor Suryanarayan Doolla based on a formal complaint submitted by Sahil's father, Ravindra.
Background of the Powai Campus Incident and Exam-Day Events
Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging inside his hostel room on the Powai campus on the evening of September 18. The tragic incident transpired merely hours after he was reportedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination. Initial accounts indicated that Wakode had allegedly utilized his handheld device to upload the exam question paper onto an artificial intelligence platform. Following the occurrence, the institute administration declined to provide comprehensive details or clarify the exact disciplinary circumstances that unfolded inside the hall.
