Hours before his death, IIT Bombay student Sahil Wokade reportedly told a friend he "made a mistake." Sources say no caste remarks came up in that call.

Introduction

New details have emerged about the final hours of Sahil Wokade, the IIT Bombay student whose death has triggered protests, an institutional apology, and a caste-discrimination investigation. According to people familiar with the probe, Wokade spoke to a close friend on the phone shortly before his death and told her he had made a mistake, referencing a thermodynamics exam that had not gone well.

Body Content

The Final Phone Call

Wokade, a 22-year-old second-year student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room on the Powai campus. Investigators say he had been caught allegedly using a phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester exam shortly before his death.

Sources told NDTV that Wokade called his friend around 2:30 pm on the day he died. During that call, he reportedly told her, "I made a mistake. My Thermodynamics paper also did not go well, and now this has happened." It was the last time the two spoke he did not respond to her calls afterward.

Investigators say the friend, who later suffered a panic attack upon learning of his death, has given a statement as part of the probe. According to that account, caste was not raised during this particular conversation.

An Earlier, Different Conversation

The absence of any caste reference in the final call stands in contrast to what Wokade had reportedly told his parents earlier. He had described facing caste based slurs and discrimination, and his father had urged him to remain patient given the opportunities ahead.

Institute Walks Back Its Earlier Statement

IIT Bombay had initially linked Wokade's death to the alleged exam-cheating incident. That position shifted this week: the institute posted on X apologising for its earlier remarks and said the circumstances of his death remain under investigation by the appropriate authorities, adding that it had been premature to characterise events before they were established through due process.

Legal and Campus Fallout

The case has taken on a sharper edge because of the FIR filed in connection with Wokade's death, which invokes the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and alleges abetment to suicide. Professor Suryanarayan Doolla the invigilator who reported the alleged phone use and who has since been removed as dean of Administrative Affairs has been named in that FIR.

Wokade's parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, have called for the arrest of both Doolla and IIT Bombay Director Shirish Kedare. At the same time, hundreds of students and the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum have staged demonstrations backing Doolla, arguing he was simply carrying out his duty as an invigilator under Senate approved exam guidelines.

Mumbai Police have asked the public and media to avoid speculation while the investigation continues. The IIT Bombay Alumni Association has echoed that call, urging against a "media trial." In response, the institute has constituted a 10-member high level committee to examine the circumstances of the death.

Key Highlights

• Sahil Wokade, 22, second year Energy Science and Engineering student, died at his hostel on the Powai campus.
• He had allegedly been caught using ChatGPT via phone during a mid-semester exam shortly before his death.
• Sources say his final phone call, around 2:30 pm on the day he died, made no mention of caste.
• He had earlier told his parents he faced caste-based discrimination and slurs.
• IIT Bombay has apologised and withdrawn its earlier statement linking the death to the exam incident.
• Professor Suryanarayan Doolla, the invigilator involved, is named in an FIR alleging abetment to suicide under the SC/ST Act.
• Students and the Faculty Forum have held demonstrations in support of Doolla; Wokade's parents want him and the director arrested.
• A 10-member committee has been set up by the institute to investigate.

Professional Disclaimer & Third-Party Reference

This report is compiled based on information attributed to sources cited by NDTV and other publicly available statements from IIT Bombay, Mumbai Police, and student bodies. Facts remain subject to the outcome of the ongoing official investigation, and readers are encouraged to consult primary reporting for further updates.

Conclusion

The Sahil Wokade case continues to evolve as investigators, students, faculty, and the institute navigate competing accounts of what led to his death. With a formal probe underway and a dedicated committee now in place, more details are expected in the coming weeks. Readers should follow verified news sources for updates as the investigation progresses.