The parents of Sahil Wakode, a 20-year-old second-year BTech student who died by suicide on September 18, 2026, were detained by Mumbai Police on Sunday, October 18, along with protesting students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay campus in Powai. The detentions came as demonstrations demanding accountability for his death continued for nearly a month.
Ravindra and Sonali Wakode had visited the campus to pay homage to their son and submit a letter to the institute’s Registrar. According to their lawyer, Siddhartha Ingale, the police also detained him and several student protesters before clearing and demolishing the protest site near the main gate.
The family has alleged caste-based discrimination and harassment and demanded the arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was named in the First Information Report (FIR). The latest incident has renewed questions about the handling of protests on campus, institutional accountability and the need for a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
Protest Site Cleared
According to reports, around 10 students who had been protesting near IIT Bombay’s main gate were detained earlier on Sunday. They were released shortly afterwards and returned to the site to continue their demonstration in support of Sahil’s family.
The protests have included relay hunger strikes and other demonstrations, with students demanding justice and accountability from the institute. When Sahil’s parents arrived at the campus, they were also detained, along with their lawyer, after police personnel began clearing the protest site. Ingale said the couple had been sitting peacefully at the site and that Ravindra Wakode had submitted a letter to the Registrar.
He also said Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad had visited the family and left shortly before the detentions took place. According to the lawyer, the police subsequently asked Ravindra to leave the site. He refused to leave until the detained student activists were released, following which he and his wife were detained. Around 16 students present at the site were allegedly taken away in a police bus as the protest area was cleared and demolished. The protesters were reportedly being taken to a police station.
Around 10 IIT-Bombay students, who have been protesting on the campus for the last one month, were detained by the police on Sunday. These students have been on relay hunger strike and were holding protests in various forms near the main gate, inside the campus. #protest https://t.co/R3pHJypldn
— Niraj Pandit (@nirajcpandit) October 18, 2026
Questions Over Accountability
Sahil’s death on September 18 triggered protests on the IIT Bombay campus and allegations from his family that he had faced caste-based discrimination and harassment. The incident occurred after he was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination.
His family has disputed the handling of the events surrounding the examination and alleged that the treatment he received contributed to his distress. They have demanded a fair investigation and action against those they hold responsible for his death. Professor Doolla, who was named in the FIR, has denied allegations of caste-based discrimination. IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare and Doolla had their statements recorded by Mumbai Police in early October, and both denied that Sahil had been subjected to casteist remarks. They maintained that institutional procedures had been followed.
The allegations remain subject to investigation, and no conclusion about responsibility should be drawn before the process is completed. The family’s demands have also included greater transparency in the inquiry and accountability from the institute’s administration. Their continuing protest, alongside student demonstrations, reflects wider concerns about how educational institutions respond to complaints of discrimination, academic pressure and student distress.
The latest detentions have added another dimension to the dispute, with questions about the space available for peaceful protest now accompanying calls for justice for Sahil. While authorities are responsible for maintaining order and ensuring campus safety, protesters and their families should be able to seek answers through lawful and peaceful means without their concerns being dismissed.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The death of a young student is a tragedy that calls for compassion, sensitivity and a serious examination of the circumstances involved. Sahil’s family deserves clear communication, a fair investigation and the assurance that every allegation will be examined impartially.
At the same time, allegations must be investigated carefully, and no individual should be declared guilty before the evidence has been assessed through due process. Educational institutions must be spaces where students can raise concerns about discrimination, academic pressure and mental well-being without fear of humiliation or retaliation.
Constructive dialogue, transparency and empathy are essential to restoring confidence and ensuring that such tragedies lead to meaningful change. Justice must involve both accountability where wrongdoing is established and stronger support systems that help students feel safe, respected and heard. How can educational institutions and authorities ensure that students and families seeking justice are heard while protecting the right to peaceful protest and ensuring a fair investigation?
