IIT-Bombay student's parents 'driven out' of Mumbai despite plans for hunger strike
MUMBAI: In a dramatic turn early Wednesday morning, the parents of IIT-Bombay student Sahil Wakode alleged that they had been driven out of Mumbai in a “private car” despite repeatedly telling the driver that they intended to remain in the city and begin a hunger strike outside the Powai institute. By early morning, the family said they had reached the Karanja Lad area of Washim district.
The family, accompanied by their advocate Nikhil Kamble, had earlier spoken to the media outside the Crime Branch office in Bandra and later outside the IIT-Bombay campus in Powai.
According to Kamble, at some point in Powai after leaving IITB gate, they were asked by men who were not in uniform to shift to another vehicle. “We were asked to change the car by some people who were not in uniform. I was wondering why my clients were being taken in a private car when they had their own vehicle. So I too sat along with them. I don't know the name of the officers, they were in mufti,” Kamble said.
Sahil’s father, Ravindra Wakode, said the family repeatedly asked the driver where they were being taken. “He kept saying, ‘I am dropping you home’,” Wakode said, who added, they were also tired and sleepy.
The family claimed they made it clear that they did not want to return home and instead planned to begin a hunger strike outside the IIT-Bombay campus from Wednesday morning. “I have taken permission for that,” Wakode said.
Kamble claimed that police vehicles initially followed the private car, but were no longer visible after the vehicle entered the Samruddhi Expressway. “We then told the driver that we wanted to use the washroom and got off the vehicle,” he said.
Wakode said the family was now returning to Mumbai and that he remained determined to begin the hunger strike outside IIT-Bombay.
“I want justice for my son. Do you realise that 100 hours have passed and no action has been taken against the offenders?” he said.
The family, accompanied by their advocate Nikhil Kamble, had earlier spoken to the media outside the Crime Branch office in Bandra and later outside the IIT-Bombay campus in Powai.
According to Kamble, at some point in Powai after leaving IITB gate, they were asked by men who were not in uniform to shift to another vehicle. “We were asked to change the car by some people who were not in uniform. I was wondering why my clients were being taken in a private car when they had their own vehicle. So I too sat along with them. I don't know the name of the officers, they were in mufti,” Kamble said.
Sahil’s father, Ravindra Wakode, said the family repeatedly asked the driver where they were being taken. “He kept saying, ‘I am dropping you home’,” Wakode said, who added, they were also tired and sleepy.
The family claimed they made it clear that they did not want to return home and instead planned to begin a hunger strike outside the IIT-Bombay campus from Wednesday morning. “I have taken permission for that,” Wakode said.
Kamble claimed that police vehicles initially followed the private car, but were no longer visible after the vehicle entered the Samruddhi Expressway. “We then told the driver that we wanted to use the washroom and got off the vehicle,” he said.
Wakode said the family was now returning to Mumbai and that he remained determined to begin the hunger strike outside IIT-Bombay.
“I want justice for my son. Do you realise that 100 hours have passed and no action has been taken against the offenders?” he said.
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