Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 22 : NCP-SP leader Clyde Crasto on Tuesday called for a thorough investigation into the death by suicide of IIT Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode and said action should be taken against anyone found responsible, amid allegations by the student's family against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla.
Speaking to ANI, Crasto said the incident needed to be investigated in view of the allegations made by Sahil's parents and questioned the circumstances that led to the student's death.
"The IIT Bombay incident needs to be thoroughly investigated. Action should be taken against the Dean who was just fired, because, you know, after what the parents said... There needs to be an investigation. Whether something actually happened or not, if the Dean is at fault, action should definitely be taken," Crasto said.
"But how did this happen, why did it happen, and why is this kind of pressure being put on these kids? And if the people in these Dean positions do something wrong, the government needs to step in and take action for the students," he added.
Crasto said the loss of a young life warranted an investigation and accountability.
"We've lost an innocent life. A life has been taken, so there needs to be an investigation and action against whoever is at fault," he said.
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is investigating Sahil's death and examining CCTV footage from the examination hall, campus and hostel. According to the Crime Branch, CCTV footage from the examination hall shows Sahil between 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm on September 18, when around 15 minutes of the examination remained. He was allegedly seen bending down to look at something in his pocket, following which a professor questioned him and took him aside. 
Sahil later reached his hostel room at around 1:25 pm and did not step out thereafter. He was found dead in his hostel room later that day, according to investigators. 
Sahil's family has alleged caste-based harassment and sought a thorough probe, including a CBI inquiry. His parents have also filed a case under the SC/ST Act, alleging discrimination. IIT Bombay has said no complaint was made by Sahil to its SC/ST cell or administration. 
Meanwhile, IIT Bombay Faculty Forum president Professor Rajkumar S Pant said students could protest for various reasons and that the incident could have acted as a trigger for broader frustrations.
"Students can protest due to various reasons, and sometimes an incident or a situation can act as a trigger for them to express their frustration about many underlying issues," Pant told ANI.
Pant also defended Doolla and said conclusions should not be drawn before the investigation was completed.
"We are extremely pained and upset at the loss of a young life from our institute. The whole problem, I think, is that before a proper investigation has been completed and before the facts of the matter are out, people have started taking sides and making assumptions," Pant said.
Doolla was relieved of his duties as Dean of Administrative Affairs amid the investigation but continues to serve as a professor at IIT Bombay, according to Pant.
"Professor Doolla has simply been relieved of his duties as the Dean of Administrative Affairs. He continues to be a professor in good standing at the institute. He has not been suspended from his position," Pant said.
The incident has triggered protests and counter-protests at IIT Bombay, with students demanding institutional reforms. Student representatives have maintained that their protests were not intended to justify academic misconduct. The institute had also agreed to an 18-point charter of demands submitted by students following the protests. 
Crasto also reacted to the alleged harassment and molestation of a minor girl and her male companion in Bihar's Jamui, where a video purportedly showing the incident went viral.
"Look, seeing what happened in Jamui, Bihar, makes your blood boil. There are people out there like this. As the reports said, they're minors. Who gave them the right to treat those kids like this? Such disgusting behavior—who gave them that right?" Crasto said.
He criticised the law and order situation in Bihar and called for strict punishment against those found guilty.
"Just look at the law and order situation in Bihar—it's a total mess. If anyone does something like this, they should get the strictest possible punishment," he said.
"The Bihar government needs to take the strictest possible action against these people and make them pay, so that no one else with these kinds of thoughts does this in the future," Crasto added.
He said the government had a responsibility to protect women and children.
"And look, it's the government's job to protect our daughters, our children, and the people. If they can't do that, they should just step down. But the way this happened is really sad and shameful," he said.
Meanwhile, Nandan Yadav, the prime accused in the harassment of a minor girl in Jamui, has been shot in the leg during an encounter with the police.

The Jamui incident took place on September 19, according to police. Three people have been arrested, and an SIT has been constituted to investigate the case. Police have also identified other suspects and are conducting raids to apprehend them. 
The incident has triggered a political controversy in Bihar, with Opposition leaders questioning the law and order situation in the state.
Congress leader Udit Raj said the incident reflected the deterioration of law and order in Bihar, while Congress MP Manoj Kumar questioned claims about governance in the state.
BJP leader Sushil Kumar Singh condemned the incident and called for swift legal action and a fast-track trial against those found guilty.
"Swift action should be taken, the case should be taken to a fast-track court, and a verdict should be delivered as soon as possible so that a message goes out to society about how serious the government is about law and order and how concerned it is," Singh said.
The National Commission for Women has also taken suo motu cognizance of the incident and directed the Bihar DGP to ensure identification and arrest of the accused and a time-bound, impartial investigation.