CA-20260924-2777High Exam Priority
Rahul Gandhi Connects with Parents of Deceased IIT Bombay Student Sahil Wakode Amid Protests
24 September 2026
4 min read
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke via video call to the parents of Sahil Wakode, an IIT Bombay student who died by suicide following allegations of caste discrimination. The parents have announced an indefinite hunger strike demanding strict action.
Key Highlights
- Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi assured Sahil Wakode's parents of full support in their quest for justice through a 17-minute video call.
- Sahil Wakode was found dead in his hostel room on September 18 after being accused of using ChatGPT during a mid-semester exam.
- The parents have planned an indefinite hunger strike in front of the IIT Bombay main gate demanding accountability.
- The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is investigating the case, and a faculty member named in the FIR for alleged caste-based abetment to suicide has been sent on leave.
Exam Quick Facts
Nodal Ministry / Dept
Ministry of Education
Key Bodies
IIT Bombay, Mumbai Police Crime Branch, Indian Youth Congress
Constitutional & Legal Context
Section 308/108 of BNS (Abetment to Suicide) and relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 where applicable.
Static GK Connection
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are recognized as Institutions of National Importance governed by the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961.