On Monday (21st September), the Indian Institute of Bombay (IIT-B) took a U-turn after protests by leftists and Ambedkarites intensified over the suicide of Sahil Wakode.
For the unversed, he was caught red-handed cheating in the exam by Professor Suryanarayana Doolla. Thereafter, Sahil took his own life. While IIT Bombay had put out the facts of the matter initially, it apologised for statements in its ‘earlier communication.’
In a statement posted from the official handle on X, the premier engineering institute said, “We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil.”
“The details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities. In view of the ongoing investigation, it was inappropriate to have set out or characterised details relating to the events preceding his demise before they had been duly established through the appropriate investigative process,” IIT-Bombay brazened out.
The new tweet marks a nefarious departure from its earlier statement, which laid down the facts of the case, including the critical aspect of the case i.e. cheating by Sahil Wakode prior to his suicide.
It appears as if the institute has surrendered before the protesting mob of leftists and Ambedkarites, who are now weaponising a dubious ‘caste discrimination’ narrative to falsely implicate Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who caught Sahil in the act of cheating.
This is now being used to absolve the deceased student of any wrongdoing while pushing the IIT-B faculty member against the wall.
If this ‘apology’ by IIT Bombay was not enough, it has now come to light that the deanship of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla has been suspended with immediate effect. This is in addition to the Director’s acceptance of the 18-point charter of demands by the protestors.
On Saturday (19th September), IIT Bombay was bold enough to put out all the facts of the case.
“A second-year student of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay died by suicide yesterday evening. The Institute expresses its deep and heartfelt condolences to the student’s family, kith and kin,” it said.
“Earlier in the day, during an examination, the student was found using a mobile phone in the exam hall. He had uploaded the examination question paper on ChatGPT to seek answers. No disciplinary action was initiated against the student. The matter was also discussed with the student by the instructor, the faculty advisor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career,” the institute emphasised
“The student subsequently returned to his hostel room. Later in the evening, he was found dead in his room. IIT Bombay is deeply saddened by the loss of a student. The Institute is extending support to the student’s family and friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by this tragic incident. The circumstances surrounding the death are being looked into by the appropriate authorities,” it further added.
But within 2 days, the premier engineering institute is being forced to apologise for its own statement under the pressure tactics of Ambedkarites and leftists.
