Rahul Gandhi Assures Support to Family of IIT-B Student Sahil Wakode Amid Protests

Mumbai, Sep 24 : Amid growing outrage over the death of 20-year-old IIT Bombay B.Tech student Sahil Wakode, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi spoke to his grieving family over a video call and assured them of his support in seeking an impartial and high-level probe into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

According to party sources, Gandhi spoke with Sahil's parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, and assured them that their concerns would be raised from the streets to Parliament.

His intervention came as protests intensified outside the IIT Bombay campus in Powai, where Congress workers and NSUI members demanded accountability and a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sahil's raised questions over the circumstances of his death and alleged that caste-based discrimination and harassment may have played a role. They have rejected the characterization of the incident as a simple suicide and described it as an alleged case of " death.

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad led the demonstrations, which witnessed a heavy police presence and the detention of several protesters.

Sahil's family and protesters have raised questions over the circumstances of his death and alleged that caste-based discrimination and harassment may have played a role. They have rejected the characterization of the incident as a simple suicide and described it as an alleged case of "institutional death."

The controversy has intensified following disclosures that Sahil was confronted during a mid-semester examination over alleged mobile phone use. CCTV footage related to the case is also being examined to establish his movements before his death in his hostel room.

The family and political leaders have called for the ongoing Crime Branch investigation to be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing the need for an independent probe into allegations of discrimination and harassment.

The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is continuing its investigation, including scrutiny of digital evidence and examination-related records.

The case has brought renewed attention to allegations of caste discrimination, institutional accountability and student welfare at India's premier technical institutions.