CCTV Footage Shows IIT Bombay Student Being Stopped During Exam; Probe Focuses on What Happened Afterwards

Mumbai: CCTV footage from an examination hall at IIT Bombay has surfaced, showing second-year student Sahil Wakode being stopped by an invigilator during an exam on September 18, just hours before he was found dead in his hostel room.

The footage has become an important part of the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the 22-year-old student’s death. Police and other authorities are examining what happened during and after the examination, including the events in the final hours before his death.

CCTV captures interaction inside examination hall

According to the footage, Wakode was seated in a front-row seat during the examination. He was wearing a black T-shirt when an invigilator, Prof Suryanarayana Doolla, approached him and spoke to him.

Wakode is seen getting up briefly before returning to his seat. The footage then shows him handing over his mobile phone to the invigilator.

The interaction between the student and the professor continues for some time. Wakode subsequently appears to collect his belongings before leaving the examination hall.

The CCTV footage is now being examined by investigators as they try to establish a clearer sequence of events during the approximately 20 minutes surrounding the incident.

IIT Bombay had earlier said mobile phone was found during exam

Following Wakode’s death, IIT Bombay had stated that the student was found using a mobile phone during an examination earlier that day.

The institute said he had uploaded a photograph of the question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers. According to the institute’s statement, however, no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against him at that point.

The emergence of the CCTV footage has renewed attention on what happened inside the examination hall and what followed immediately afterwards.

Student found dead in hostel room hours later

Several hours after the examination incident, Wakode was found hanging in his hostel room.

His death led to protests and raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police subsequently registered an abetment-to-suicide case following a complaint filed by Wakode’s father.

Investigators are examining multiple aspects of the case, including the examination incident, the interaction between the student and the invigilator, and allegations subsequently made by his family.

Family alleges harassment and caste discrimination

Wakode’s parents have alleged that their son had faced harassment at the institute and had spoken to them about what they described as caste-based discrimination.

His father, Ravindra Wakode, has specifically accused Prof Doolla of discriminating against his son and has demanded action against him.

Ravindra Wakode said his son had previously spoken to him about the alleged discrimination. He told reporters that he had advised his son to endure the difficulties because getting admission to an IIT was extremely difficult.

These allegations are part of the broader investigation and have not been established as facts by the investigation or a court.

IIT Bombay faculty backs professor

While the student’s family has accused Prof Doolla of discrimination, members of the IIT Bombay faculty have publicly defended him.

Prof Rajkumar Pant, chief of the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum, said the professor was performing his responsibility as an invigilator when he reported the alleged examination malpractice.

According to Pant, the student had allegedly violated examination rules and Prof Doolla had reported the matter to the head of the department. He argued that a professor should not be criticised simply for carrying out his duties.

The contrasting accounts from the student’s family and the institute’s faculty have become an important aspect of the controversy surrounding Wakode’s death.

Professor removed as Dean of Students Welfare

Amid the controversy, IIT Bombay removed Prof Doolla from his position as Dean of Students Welfare. Reports have also suggested that he was subsequently sent on leave.

The institute’s actions and the allegations made by the family are being viewed alongside the police investigation into the student’s death.

Police investigation continues

Mumbai Police has confirmed that an abetment-to-suicide case has been registered against several people following the complaint filed by Wakode’s father.

Investigators are expected to examine CCTV footage, statements from people who were present during the examination, and other available evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events.

At the centre of the investigation is the question of what happened to Wakode after he was stopped during the examination and before he was found dead in his hostel room.

The CCTV footage provides a visual record of part of that period, but it does not by itself establish why Wakode later died or whether any particular individual’s actions contributed to his death. Those questions will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.

The case has also prompted wider discussion about student pressure, examination rules, institutional procedures and the support available to students facing distress.

Anyone experiencing emotional distress or worried about someone else can seek help from a mental-health professional or a crisis-support service.

News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.