IIT-B's Sahil Wakode told friend he regretted cheating in exam before suicide: Police

Friends of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode told the Crime Branch that he had expressed regret over cheating in an exam shortly before his death, according to the police probe.

In Short

• Police recorded the statement of Sahil's friend who last spoke to him
• The friend said Sahil worried his Thermodynamics theory paper had gone badly
• He allegedly mentioned being caught cheating during the examination, police said

A new development has emerged in the investigation into the IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode's death by suicide. The Crime Branch has recorded the statement of one of his friends, who, according to police, was the last person to speak with him over the phone.

The friend reportedly told investigators that Sahil spoke about his thermodynamics examination during their conversation. According to the statement, Sahil was concerned that the exam had not gone as expected and was anxious about his performance as he wanted to score well.

The friend also allegedly told police that Sahil said he had been caught cheating during the examination. This claim is part of the ongoing investigation and has not been independently established. Police are examining the circumstances surrounding the examination and the events that followed before drawing any conclusions.

SIX STUDENTS' STATEMENTS RECORDED

The Crime Branch has so far recorded statements from at least six students, according to police. Investigators are examining the accounts of Sahil's friends and others who interacted with him to reconstruct the sequence of events in the hours before his death.

Police are also examining Sahil's phone records and his conversations with friends. After institute staff found him deceased, investigators reportedly found multiple missed calls on his phone, including calls from friends that had gone unanswered.

The Crime Branch is examining these call records and other available information to establish a timeline of events and understand the circumstances surrounding Sahil's death.

Police are also looking into whether the examination and events immediately afterwards were linked to the stress Sahil was reportedly experiencing. The investigation is ongoing, and the claims made in statements recorded by police will have to be verified.

- Ends