He told us about caste slurs at IIT-B: Read Sahil's parents' full press statement
The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide on September 18, have demanded the arrest of Professor Suryanarayan Doolla and Director Shireesh Kedare, alleging that their son faced caste-based harassment, threats and mental pressure before his death.
Sahil, 22, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room hours after an incident during an examination. The Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, including CCTV footage from the examination hall, campus and hostel.advertisementโฎโฏ Read Full StoryREAD THE FULL STATEMENT HERERavindra Wakode, Sahil's father, said in his statement:
"In my family, my wife, Sonali, aged 45 years, is a teacher, my mother, Leelabai, aged 70 years, and my son, Sahil, aged 20 years. I work as a secretary in various executive societies, and my wife works as a teacher at Shri Shivajirao Moghe High School. My family and I are supported by the income from our monthly salaries.
My son Sahil completed his education up to Class XII in Yavatmal. After Class XII, he got admission to the Energy Science department of IIT Powai, Mumbai, in the year 2024-25 for further higher education. After getting admission to the said institute, we kept him in the hostel there. Everything was going smoothly in the first year. He would always call and inform us about his happiness. He passed the first year of Energy Science.
When I met Sahil while he was studying in the second year, he said, 'For the past three months, on the instructions of Director Shri Shirish B Kedare, faculty teacher Shri Suryanarayan Dulla sir has been abusing him in caste terms using casteist slurs. Since he is from a lower caste, he threatened and harassed him and would also threaten to implicate him in any false issues.'
After that, I gave him mental support and explained and consoled him.
Then, on 18/09/2026, my wife received a call from IIT Mumbai at around 08:00, and they told her to leave immediately and come to the hostel at IIT Mumbai. After some time, Powai police also called and told her that her son Sahil had committed suicide and that she should come to Mumbai immediately.
After that, we came to Powai, Mumbai, from Yavatmal on the morning of 19/09/2026.
However, the faculty teacher Shri Suryanarayan Dulla sir mentally harassed him and incited him to commit suicide. Therefore, I have a legal complaint against Faculty Teacher Suryanarayan Dulla and his senior officers and all other concerned officers of IIT."
Sahil's mother, Sonali Wakode, also alleged that her son had told her about the alleged caste-based harassment when the family visited him on September 13.
"I have lost my child. I know the pain I am going through. Please give justice to my son. Please ensure justice for the atrocities committed against him. Why is it that Dalit students are the ones committing suicide? We supported him mentally, telling him, 'Your future is bright, son; just endure this' that was our mistake. If we had taken him away that day, my child would be alive today.
I trust the Crime Branch. I have full faith in the administration and in the Constitution. My child will get justice. When we went to visit him on the 13th, inside his room, he told me, 'Papa, I am being tortured a bit; they are hurling casteist slurs at me.' We offered him moral support. That was a mistake on our part. I earnestly request you to ensure my child gets justice..."- EndsPublished By: Karan YadavPublished On: Sep 22, 2026 19:03 ISTREAD | IIT Bombay row: Faculty Forum chief says no proof of casteist remarks by Prof DoollaREAD | IIT Bombay student suicide: CCTV footage shows Sahil being asked to leave exam hall
