The tragic death of 22-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode has sparked widespread outrage and a complex police investigation, with a locked iPhone 17 emerging as a central piece of evidence.
Wakode, a second-year student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging in his hostel room on September 18. The incident occurred just hours after he was allegedly caught using his mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.
Key Developments in the Case
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The Locked iPhone Obstacle: Investigators from the Mumbai Police Crime Branch have been unable to access Wakode’s phone due to a pattern lock. While forensic tools exist for older models, technical roadblocks with the newer iPhone 17 have stalled data extraction. The device is expected to hold crucial clues regarding his final communications and web searches.
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Family Protests and Allegations: Sahil’s parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, have launched a hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, demanding strict action against their son’s alleged “tormentors” and pointing to a troubling trend of student deaths on the campus. The family has explicitly alleged caste-based harassment.
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FIR and Faculty Leave: An FIR has been filed alleging abetment to suicide on grounds of caste discrimination, naming IIT Bombay faculty member Professor Suryanarayana Doolla. CCTV footage reportedly shows Professor Doolla asking Sahil to leave the exam hall. Consequently, the professor has been sent on leave to ensure an impartial probe.
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IIT Bombay’s Apology and Action: The institute issued a formal apology for its initial communications that prematurely linked Sahil’s death to alleged cheating. IIT Bombay has also formed a 10-member internal committee and deferred ongoing mid-semester exams amidst the controversy.
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Reconstructing the Timeline: Investigators have recorded statements from 20 individuals, including students, hostel staff, and exam supervisors. Police are mapping a 47-minute gap—tracking Sahil leaving the exam hall at 12:38 pm and reaching his hostel room at 1:25 pm—by correlating CCTV footage, call detail records, and forensic data from his seized laptop.
Note: As the investigation continues, the Crime Branch is exploring advanced digital-forensic options and external agency assistance to bypass the phone’s encryption and piece together the final moments before the tragedy.
