Rahul Gandhi Speaks to Sahil Wakode's Parents, Assures Full Support Amid Discrimination Allegations
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In a major political and human rights intervention following the tragic demise of undergraduate student Sahil Wakode at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi connected directly with the grieving family to extend complete solidarity and legal assistance in their fight for justice. According to sources cited by news agency PTI, the senior Congress leader held an extensive 17-minute video call with Sahil's parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, while they were traveling from their home district of Washim to Mumbai. Reassuring the heartbroken couple of unconditional institutional backing, Gandhi emphasized that they would not walk alone in seeking accountability from premier educational administrations. The call was also attended by Indian Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib and Maharashtra unit chief Shivraj More, who accompanied the family during their journey to the state capital.
Parents Allege Systematic Caste Discrimination: Growing Outcry Over September 18 Tragedy
The high-level conversation unfolds amidst escalating student unrest, nationwide civil society protests, and mounting calls for an independent, time-bound judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the young scholar's death. Sahil, a promising B.Tech undergraduate, was discovered hanging in his hostel room on the evening of September 18, triggering shock waves across the Powai campus. His parents have formally alleged that their son was subjected to deep-seated caste-based prejudice, systemic isolation, and relentless psychological harassment within the institute's academic environment, demanding stringent criminal action against the individuals whose targeted hostility drove him to take the extreme step.
CCTV Footage Released and FIR Filed: Faculty Member Sent on Leave as Crime Branch Takes Over
The flashpoint of the tragedy centered around an exam-hall dispute where Sahil was accused of unauthorized use of AI tool ChatGPT during his ongoing mid-semester examinations. CCTV footage from inside the examination hall, broadcast by television channels on Wednesday, reportedly captured the moments before a faculty invigilator confronted Sahil and escorted him out of the test center. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has taken over the formal probe, registering a First Information Report (FIR) under statutory provisions concerning abetment to suicide rooted in caste-based discrimination. To ensure an unhindered, impartial investigation into the procedural conduct of the department, IIT Bombay authorities have placed the named faculty member, Suryanarayan Dula, on administrative leave pending the final outcome of the police inquiry.
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