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IIT-Bombay parents begin hunger strike over student death probe

The parents of second-year student Sahil Wakode, who died on September 18, have launched a protest at Mumbai's Azad Maidan demanding answers about the circumstances leading to his death. The institute has deferred mid-semester examinations amid the widening controversy.

LSN India · 25 September 2026

IIT-Bombay parents begin hunger strike over student death probe

The death of Sahil Wakode has triggered mounting tensions between the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and the student's family, with parents now staging a hunger strike to demand clarity on the events preceding the tragedy. Wakode, a second-year student, died on September 18 under circumstances that remain disputed.

The protest has intensified following the emergence of CCTV footage allegedly from an examination hall on campus, which has circulated widely on social media and reignited questions about what transpired before Wakode's death. The footage has become a focal point in the widening dispute, with stakeholders on different sides interpreting its significance differently.

In response to the escalating situation, IIT-Bombay has deferred its mid-semester examinations, a move underscoring the gravity of the institutional crisis. The decision reflects the administration's acknowledgment of the current climate of uncertainty and concern among the student body and their families.

The incident has drawn attention to student welfare and institutional accountability at one of India's premier engineering colleges. As investigations continue, the parents' hunger strike represents their determination to obtain transparent answers about the circumstances surrounding their son's death and ensure institutional responsibility.