Hours after the Mumbai Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) student Darshan Solanki's death case recovered a purported 'suicide note', his kin have claimed they have no knowledge of the same on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. A family member said that they had no information about it and Darshan's father has gone to meet the SIT for details, and declined to speak more on the matter.
Among other things, the suicide note has reportedly named a roommate of Darshan for alleged harassment, threats and casteist discrimination that compelled him to take the extreme step on February 12. The SIT led by Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Lakhmi Gautam has found the 'suicide note' from Darshan's room over a month after his death which sparked off a huge furore in higher education campuses all over India, as stated in a report by IANS.
Sources speak about the suicide note
According to reports, the brief 'suicide note' names the co-student, whose identity has been established by the SIT and who had allegedly threatened and harassed Darshan. Moreover, the note, in a small chit, was recovered by the SIT nearly three weeks ago, when they investigated the room and carried out a panchnama, which was not found during the previous probe by the Powai Police Station.
Now, the SIT has lodged a case invoking relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Atrocities Act pertaining to abetment to suicide and caste-based discrimination, against the co-student.
IIT-B inquiry
Earlier, an IIT-B internal inquiry panel had ruled out any "caste-based discrimination" leading to Darshan's death, but his father Ramesh Solanki last week outright rejected the contentions.
Death by suicide
Darshan, 18, a first-year Chemical Engineering student died on February 12, a day after writing his semester exams, after which, followed a massive controversy. The state government appointed a Mumbai Police SIT, as stated in a report by The New Indian Express.
Further at least three students associations: the Ambedkar Phule Periyar Study Circle-IITB, the Ambedkarite Students Collective-IITB and Concerned Alumni-IITB — had earlier written to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him to request the Mumbai Police to register Ramesh Solanki's complaint.
