In a post on X, the institute re-shared its earlier statement of September 21 and said it regretted the remarks made regarding the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death.
“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,” the institute said.
IIT Bombay further said that the circumstances surrounding the incident are still being examined by competent legal and law enforcement 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,” the institute stated.
The apology comes as classes have resumed at IIT Bombay and the Mumbai Police continues its investigation into the death of the second-year student.
Meanwhile, a CCTV clip purportedly showing students inside an examination hall at the institute has circulated widely on social media. The footage, which carries a timestamp of September 18 at around 12:37 pm, appears to show a student sitting in the front row leaving the examination hall while other students continue writing their test.
The identity of the student seen in the footage has not been independently established. However, several social media accounts have claimed that the student was Sahil Wakode.
The footage has surfaced amid questions surrounding the events preceding Sahil’s death and allegations by his family of caste-based harassment involving Professor Suryanarayan Doolla and others.
In an earlier statement that was subsequently retracted, IIT Bombay had said that Sahil was caught cheating during an examination and was counselled by Professor Doolla, who was serving as an invigilator.
According to the preliminary findings of the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, CCTV footage captured Sahil’s movements inside the examination hall between approximately 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm on September 18. Police said that, with around 15 minutes remaining in the examination, Sahil was seen bending down and looking at something in his pocket.
A professor subsequently questioned him and took him aside from the other students, according to the police.
“After leaving the examination hall, Sahil moved across the campus. He reached his hostel room at approximately 1:25 pm. He did not step out of the room thereafter,” a Crime Branch official said.
The investigation is being conducted by an Assistant Commissioner of Police-rank officer under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Detection-I, Crime Branch. Police have appealed to people to avoid speculation and drawing premature conclusions while the inquiry is underway.
IIT Bombay has also constituted a 10-member committee to examine the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death. Professor Doolla has been relieved of his administrative responsibilities and sent on leave pending the inquiry.
At the same time, several serving and former colleagues of Professor Doolla have expressed support for him and raised objections to the suspension of his deanship by the institute.
Sahil, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, died by suicide on September 18. His family has alleged harassment and caste-based discrimination, while the institute and police are examining the circumstances surrounding the examination incident and the events that preceded his death.
