Wakode’s parents seek police protection amid allegations over son’s death

The parents of former IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode have sought police protection, citing fears for their lives and concerns about the investigation into their son’s death, their lawyer said on Tuesday. Advocate Nikhil Kamble said the family had approached the Mumbai Commissioner of Police and the Joint Commissioners of Police for Crime and Law and Order. According to Mr.

Kamble, the parents fear that people they have accused in connection with Wakode’s death could influence the investigation or pose a threat to the family. The allegations have not been independently established. The family has accused IIT Bombay Director Prof.

Shireesh Kedare and Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla. Mr.

Kamble described the two as influential and said the family was concerned about the preservation and confidentiality of evidence. He also raised concerns over the alleged leak of CCTV footage related to the case. Mr.

Kamble said the family’s concerns had grown because those accused by them had not been arrested. Wakode’s parents began a one-day hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Tuesday, demanding the arrest of Prof. Doolla.

They are scheduled to continue the protest on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., under permission granted by the Azad Maidan police station. Mr.

Kamble said no Maharashtra government representative had approached the family despite the protest and its repeated demands. The family has also alleged that an IIT Bombay inquiry committee examining the circumstances of Wakode’s death has not contacted them.