MUMBAI: Activists from six organisations, who have been rallying in support of Sahil Wakode’s parents, gathered outside IIT Bombay’s main gate on Wednesday to extend their solidarity to a protest call by his father, Ravindra Wakode.
Police intervened, ushered the protesters into police vans and detained them, the protesters said. The protestors claimed that they had gathered only to meet the institute director and submit their account, along with a charter of demands seeking a fair investigation by an external committee and immediate accountability.
A delegation of six members were later allowed to meet the IIT-Bombay director. While the protesters claimed that 30 people, including activists such as Sambhaji Bhagat, Deepali Salve, and Rahul Sonpimple, had been detained, the police put the number at 20. Meanwhile, Wakode’s parents continued their hunger strike at Azad Maidan.
A Powai police officer said at least 20 people who were heading to the IIT Powai campus were detained after learning they were going to protest without permission. The team reached the spot and brought them to police station. They were released two hours later after noting down their name, address and contact details. An activist, Tejas Anoop, said he was dragged on the road and put into the van.
He said that he suffered injuries in his abdomen and was not offered any medical help.
Wakode, a second-year B Tech student from IIT-Bombay, died by suicide on Sept 18, hours after he was found with a phone during a mid-semester exam. The activists not only highlighted alleged procedural lapses in the handling of Sahil’s case so far, but also criticised the arbitrary implementation of the 2026 punishment document, (which included suspension even for first offence), which, they claimed, had ‘not been communicated’ to students properly and could carry ‘considerable psychological weight’ for them. The 2026 punishment rules have now been revoked, in a senate meeting held last week.
The delegation in their letter submitted to the institute, claimed that the administration has failed to address the structural issues inside the campus and have not addressed the students (around 15) protesting inside the campus for the last 25 days. They claimed that the incident has far reaching consequences for marginalised students everywhere.
Meanwhile, a student from IIT Bombay’s Energy Science department has started a survey seeking responses on discontinuation of the ongoing protests. In the survey shared among campus students, the student has expressed concern over the protest at the institute’s main gate, saying it is affecting student morale, placements and internships, and may raise concerns among recruiters. The student also said strict entry rules have inconvenienced guests, alumni and official visitors, while deliveries and regular hostel services have been disrupted. The protest, the student added, was also affecting the institute’s reputation, as the actions of a group of students were being generalised to the entire student community.
