My son was killed: IIT Bombay student's mother alleges torture, cops file case

The mother of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide on campus, has alleged that her son was tortured and killed. Her allegations come as police register a case on a complaint by his father and begin an investigation into the death.Sahil, a second-year BTech student in IIT Bombay’s Energy Science and Engineering department, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room.The mother of 22-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode, who died by suicide on campus, has alleged that her son was “killed” and “tortured”, as police registered a case based on a complaint filed by his father.“My son was killed and tortured. Now we want justice,” Sahil’s mother told reporters on Saturday.Mumbai Police DCP Dutt Nalavade said a case had been registered on the complaint filed by Sahil’s father. He said the case has been registered under sections relating to abetment of suicide and other offences, and that the father had named several people in his complaint. A case has been registered against all those named by him, the DCP said.“Yesterday, a second-year BTech student committed suicide at IIT Powai. Following the incident, a case has been registered on the complaint of the deceased student's father and further investigation is being conducted,” Nalavade said. He added that the incident would be investigated from all angles. Sahil, a second-year BTech student in IIT Bombay’s Energy Science and Engineering department, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room on Friday evening. He was a native of Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district.His death came hours after he was caught using a mobile phone during an examination. IIT Bombay said Sahil had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers. The institute said no disciplinary action had been initiated against him. According to IIT Bombay, the instructor and the Head of the Department discussed the matter with Sahil, counselled him and assured him that the incident would not affect his academic career.Sahil subsequently returned to his hostel room. Later that evening, his hostel mates found that he was not responding and alerted the authorities, following which police were informed.Police said no suicide note was recovered from the room. The body was sent for a post-mortem examination.STUDENTS ALLEGE THREAT OF SUSPENSIONSahil’s death sparked protests on the IIT Bombay campus, with students demanding an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death.Students protesting on campus had alleged that Sahil was threatened with suspension after he was caught using his phone during the examination. They demanded a transparent probe and called for the resignation of IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare.The institute, however, has maintained that no disciplinary action was initiated against Sahil and that he was assured that the examination incident would not adversely affect his academic career.IIT Bombay said it was “deeply saddened” by his death and was extending support to his friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the tragedy.“The circumstances surrounding the death are being looked into by the appropriate authorities,” the institute said.The latest police action follows the family's allegations and comes as investigators probe the circumstances leading up to Sahil’s death.The incident is the third reported suicide at IIT Bombay’s Powai campus in seven months. A second-year student died by suicide in a hostel in February, while a 20-year-old second-year BTech student died by suicide in July, at the beginning of the new semester.- EndsPublished On: Sep 19, 2026 18:02 IST