IIT Bombay student's death: Chandrashekhar Azad seeks CBI probe from Amit Shah
By TUF News Desk · Published 22 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, asking that the probe into IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode’s death be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Written on Tuesday, the letter also seeks an inquiry into alleged harsh treatment of students by police during protests demanding justice.
“We humbly request that immediate necessary steps be taken to hand over the investigation into the death under suspicious circumstances to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI),” Azad wrote, according to the Hindustan Times. He added that the police’s treatment of students demanding justice must be investigated and that students’ education and academic future should not be affected.
Why Azad wants the CBI involved
Azad, who leads the Bhim Army and heads the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), said the Mumbai Crime Branch investigation had not reached a decisive conclusion more than a month after the student’s death on September 18. He flagged that Wakode’s mobile phone had still not been unlocked.
In the letter, he described “irresponsible statements” by the IIT Bombay administration as a source of confusion around the case. “The allegations that the investigation has deviated from the established procedure and that efforts are being made to suppress the truth raise serious questions,” he wrote, per the Hindustan Times.
The October 18 protest
The letter also questions how police and the administration handled students during an October 18 protest. Azad called the treatment of students “not only condemnable but also deeply concerning and unacceptable under any circumstances”, and said students raising their voices for justice should be dealt with respect and sensitivity. Careers360 reported that he wants steps taken to protect students’ studies and academic futures.
Protests have continued since the death: more than 175 alumni asked political parties to stay off the Powai campus, warning that disruptions could affect the studies and examinations of nearly 12,000 students.
What led to this
Wakode was found dead in his hostel room on September 18, hours after he was allegedly caught with a phone during a mid-semester exam. Classmates said he was asked to leave the hall; the institute said he had been uploading the question paper to ChatGPT. IIT Bombay has maintained that “no disciplinary action was initiated against the student” and that he was counselled by the instructor and the department head, who assured him it would not affect his academic career.
The death set off campus protests, with students questioning the institute’s handling of the incident and alleging caste-based discrimination. An FIR for abetment to suicide was registered against a faculty member named in the family’s complaint, and the case was later moved to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. The IIT B for Bharat student group has also flagged campus security and repeated gate closures, saying it could hit students’ internship and placement prospects, according to Careers360.
What happens next
The Home Ministry will now decide whether the case goes to the CBI. The institute has already moved to add student support: 30 counsellor posts opened at its Student Wellness Centre earlier this month. Any official update from the institute will appear on its official website.
If you or someone you know is struggling, India’s national mental health helpline Tele MANAS offers free, confidential 24x7 counselling at 14416.
Frequently asked questions
What did Chandrashekhar Azad ask Amit Shah?
The Nagina MP wrote to the Union Home Minister seeking a CBI probe into Sahil Wakode’s death and an inquiry into alleged police mistreatment of protesting students.
Why does Azad want the investigation moved to the CBI?
The Mumbai Crime Branch probe has not reached a decisive conclusion more than a month after the September 18 death, and the student’s mobile phone is still unlocked, according to his letter.
What was IIT Bombay’s response to the allegations around the death?
No disciplinary action was initiated against the student, the institute has said; the instructor and the department head counselled him and assured him the exam incident would not affect his academic career.
Where can students seek help?
Tele MANAS, India’s national mental health helpline, offers free confidential 24x7 counselling on toll-free 14416.
Frequently asked questions
What did Chandrashekhar Azad ask Amit Shah?
He wrote to the Union Home Minister seeking a CBI probe into Sahil Wakode's death and an inquiry into alleged police mistreatment of protesting students.
Why does Azad want the investigation moved to the CBI?
The Mumbai Crime Branch probe has not reached a decisive conclusion more than a month after the September 18 death, and the student's mobile phone is still unlocked, according to his letter.
What was IIT Bombay's response to the allegations around the death?
No disciplinary action was initiated against the student, the institute has said; the instructor and the department head counselled him and assured him the exam incident would not affect his academic career.
Sources: Hindustan Times, Careers360