Mumbai police say the phone could hold clues to the 22‑year‑old student’s last hours. But the device is secured with a pattern lock, preventing investigators from accessing call logs or messages. It was recovered from Wokade’s hostel room after his body was found hanging on the evening of September 18.
CCTV footage from the mid‑semester exam went viral, showing a student leaving the hall early. The clip, later linked to Wokade, raises questions about alleged academic malpractice. IIT Bombay issued a formal apology in March, retracting earlier claims that the student had used ChatGPT during the test.
Wokade’s parents, Ravindra and Sonali, began a hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, demanding action against alleged tormentors. They allege caste‑based harassment contributed to their son’s distress. The incident marks the third IIT Bombay suicide this year, a grim pattern noted by the Education Ministry.
Professor Suryanarayan Doolla, named in the FIR for abetment to suicide, was placed on leave to aid an impartial probe. The institute’s committee has called for a thorough review of hostel security and faculty conduct.
Investigators plan to unlock the phone before the crime‑branch hearing on October 5. The result could clarify whether Wokade’s final communications point to external pressure or self‑imposed despair.