Several activist groups and student organisations, including the All India Independent Scheduled Castes Association (AIISCA) and All India Students’ Federation (AISF), protested at Azad Maidan on Friday (October 16, 2026), demanding the arrest of two IIT Bombay professors accused of harassing student Sahil Wakode before his death on September 18. As the family’s agitation entered its 15th day, Wakode’s father said he would continue protesting until action was taken.
The protesters demanded action against Suryanarayana Doolla, Professor of Energy Science and Engineering, and Professor Shireesh B. Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, along with a transparent investigation and stronger safeguards against caste discrimination.
“My only request is that they arrest those responsible as soon as possible and give my Sahil justice,” said Ravindra Wakode, Sahil’s father. Asked whether he would continue protesting until arrests were made, he replied, “Yes, the protest will continue.”
Ravindra said the family would gather outside IIT Bombay at noon on Sunday (October 18, 2026), to pay tribute to Sahil, marking one month since his death. An application seeking police permission has been submitted, but approval is awaited.
Siddharth Ingle, advocate representing the family, questioned the delay in arrests despite an FIR registered at Powai police station under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), pertaining to abetment of suicide, and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“Section 108 carries a punishment of up to 10 years and is a non-bailable offence. The Crime Branch should have taken Doolla and Kedare into custody, interrogated them and proceeded with the investigation. Instead, Doolla was called to record his statement nearly 20 days after the incident,” Ingle alleged.
“We are asking the police to explain why arrests have not been made. They have not provided us with any reasons and continue to say that the investigation is underway,” he added.
Ingle raised concerns about possible evidence tampering, claiming Doolla had been removed from his administrative position but continued as a professor.
“We do not know whether he is still residing on campus. There is a possibility of evidence being tampered with or witnesses being influenced. We want a fair investigation, and for that, the accused must be arrested,” he said.
According to Ingle, the family met Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Kumbhare on Thursday but received no satisfactory explanation for the delay.
“We want to know what happened after the alleged video of Sahil surfaced. Who took him where, who met him, who was with him and when did he return to his room? We have no details about those six to seven hours,” Ingle said.
“We do not want to create problems for the government. We want a fair investigation. We appeal to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to demonstrate sensitivity towards the family’s demands,” he added.
Students question IIT Bombay’s anti-discrimination guidelines & internal inquiry
AIISCA member Arya Wankhede criticised IIT Bombay’s reiteration of its 2023 anti-discrimination guidelines discouraging questions about JEE or GATE scores and admission categories.
“Caste is not something that can be hidden simply by not asking someone’s name or marks. People can identify caste through surnames, language, social backgrounds and several other factors. It is naive to suggest that discrimination will disappear if such questions are avoided,” Wankhede said.
Questioning delays in the institute’s internal inquiry and police investigation, he added, “They have always used delays in investigations as a tactic. They make us go around the system until we are exhausted. But we will not get tired, and we will not stop this time.”
AIISCA member Pradhyuman Bele also demanded accountability. “Why has the investigation not been completed yet? What is preventing the authorities from concluding it? Nearly a month has passed since Sahil’s death, and we still do not have answers,” he said.
Bele alleged that police visited his residence ahead of a protest planned in Chembur’s Siddharth Colony. “We are not engaging in violence or damaging property. We are only demanding justice. Why should the police come to our homes when we call for a peaceful protest?” he asked.
Activists warn of intensified agitation
Ambedkarite activist Sandeep Khambe demanded the professors’ arrest. “Whatever the truth is, it will emerge during the investigation. But action must be initiated first,” he said.
Drawing parallels with the deaths of Rohith Vemula, Payal Tadvi and Aniket Ambhore, Khambe asked, “How many more Sahils must we lose? How many more Rohith Vemulas must we lose?”
“Sahil was not just your son. He belonged to an entire community. Do not lose hope. The students and the Ambedkarite movement stand with you,” he told Wakode’s parents.
“There will be no compromise in Sahil’s case. Until justice is delivered and action is taken against those responsible, the Ambedkarite movement and the students will not remain silent,” he warned.
Dhanushree, an AIISCA Mumbai member, said, “When someone from the SC-ST community dies, particularly in cases we consider institutional deaths, it is not just an individual who is lost. A dream is shattered — the dream of progressing in society with dignity and self-respect.”
Calling for stronger implementation of the SC/ST Act and a Rohith Vemula Act, she added, “We will take this movement forward and continue putting pressure on the authorities until our demands are addressed. We want justice for Sahil and measures to ensure that such deaths do not happen again.”
The protest followed an October 14 demonstration outside IIT Bombay, during which several protesters were detained. The allegations against the professors remain unproven, and their responses were not immediately available.
Published – October 18, 2026 09:12 am IST
