IIT Bombay Students Launch Hunger Strike Demanding Director’s Resignation Over Sahil Wakode’s Death
IIT Bombay students have launched a hunger strike, escalating a 14-day protest over the death of second-year student Sahil Wakode. The students are demanding the resignation of Director Shireesh Kedare, the suspension of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, and an independent external inquiry, while Wakode’s parents continue a parallel fast at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan.
Students at IIT Bombay have announced a hunger strike, intensifying their 14-day protest over the death of 20-year-old student Sahil Wakode. The students are demanding accountability from the institute, including the resignation of Director Shireesh Kedare and suspension of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla from all responsibilities until the criminal investigation is completed, News18 reported.
The announcement comes amid the ongoing probe into Sahil’s death and a separate hunger strike by his parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan. The family has been demanding the arrest of Professor Doolla and the institute’s Director, alleging that Sahil faced caste-based harassment and pressure before his death. The parents have said they will continue their protest seeking justice.
IIT Bombay Students Launch Hunger Strike
Sahil, a second-year BTech student, was found dead in his hostel room on September 18, hours after an incident during a mid-semester examination. His family has alleged caste-based harassment, while the institute had initially linked the examination incident to alleged malpractice before later apologising for making public assertions before the investigation was complete.
The case is being investigated by the Mumbai Crime Branch. Police have registered an abetment-to-suicide case against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, while two other accused remain unidentified in the FIR. Investigators are examining CCTV footage, phone records and other digital evidence and have recorded statements from students, examiners, supervisors and administrative officials. The probe is still underway and no final conclusion has been reached on what led to Sahil’s death.
According to the students, hundreds gathered on campus after news of Sahil’s death and marched towards the main gate, demanding the resignation of Director Kedare and Professor Doolla. The students say the Director came to address the gathering but that his assurances failed to address their concerns.
The protest continued through the night and subsequently turned into a broader discussion among students about issues affecting campus life, including mental health, student-teacher relationships, placement pressure, evaluation systems and how students deal with loss.
Demands for Independent External Panel and Institutional Reforms
The students say they have now been protesting for 14 days and allege that the administration has not officially responded to their demands. They are also seeking an independent investigation, claiming that some members of the existing internal committee have publicly expressed support for Professor Doolla before the conclusion of the inquiry.
The students have demanded that the existing investigation committee be dissolved and replaced with an independent external panel with no current IIT Bombay employee or student as a member. They have also proposed the inclusion of at least two among Bhalchandra Mungekar, P. Sainath, Ram Puniyani and Sukhadeo Thorat.
Among their other key demands are the immediate suspension of Professor Doolla from all responsibilities until the criminal investigation concludes, the resignation of Director Shireesh Kedare, and measures to ensure that Sahil’s parents can safely visit the campus and meet students and the administration.
The students have also called for reforms in the Student Welfare Committee and Disciplinary Action Committee, greater transparency in disciplinary proceedings, reforms to the SC/ST Cell, filling of SC/ST faculty vacancies, changes to examination schedules, safer working conditions for campus workers and an end to gender disparities among workers.
They have further demanded that no action be taken against students participating in the protest at the IIT Bombay main gate, either during or after the agitation.
The students say their hunger strike is now meant to underline their demand that IIT Bombay acknowledge what they describe as institutional failures and take accountability. They say the protest is also about creating a wider dialogue on student welfare and the functioning of the institute.
Meanwhile, Sahil’s parents continue their hunger strike at Azad Maidan, demanding justice and action against those they hold responsible for their son’s death. Their protest comes as the Crime Branch investigation continues and students on campus intensify their own agitation.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 02, 2026 06:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
