IIT Bombay shifts September 26-27 exams to October 10-11

IIT Bombay has postponed its mid-semester examinations following the death of second-year student Sahil Wakode. The exams scheduled for September 26-27 will now be held on October 10-11. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is investigating Wakode’s death

Mumbai: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has postponed its mid-semester examinations following the death of second-year student Sahil Wakode, the institute announced on Thursday.

In a statement, IIT Bombay said the mid-semester examinations scheduled for September 26-27 had been postponed to October 10-11, which fall on Saturday and Sunday. The rescheduled examinations will follow the same timetable, it said.

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The development comes days after Wakode’s death triggered protests on the IIT Powai campus. The institute said on Wednesday that classes had resumed at the campus.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi spoke to Wakode’s family over the phone and assured them of his support in their pursuit of justice, the Maharashtra Congress said on Thursday.

According to the party’s state unit, Gandhi expressed solidarity with the family and assured them of all possible support in seeking justice for Sahil.

Following Wakode’s death, his family has levelled allegations against the IIT Bombay administration and certain officials. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is investigating the case.

The Youth Congress is also scheduled to hold a press conference on Thursday afternoon on the matter. The organisation is expected to announce its future strategy and next course of action concerning the case.

The Mumbai Police said on Wednesday that the investigation into Wakode’s death was being conducted impartially and that all possible angles were being examined. The police also appealed to people to refrain from spreading misinformation about the case.

Earlier, IIT Bombay Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who has been named in connection with Wakode’s death, was sent on leave amid the ongoing investigation, sources said.

Wakode’s parents have demanded Doolla’s immediate arrest. A case has been registered against him on allegations including abetment to suicide and caste-based discrimination following the student’s death.

Wakode, a second-year B.Tech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging in his hostel room on the Powai campus on the evening of September 18.

The incident occurred hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination.