IIT-B Dalit student’s death: NCSC ‘satisfied’ with inquiry

Two days after the Mumbai Police filed a chargesheet in the suicide of IIT-Bombay student Darshan Solanki, accusing his batchmate, Arman Iqbal Khatri, of abetment, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes on June 1 closed its investigation

Two days after the Mumbai Police filed a chargesheet in the suicide of IIT-Bombay student Darshan Solanki, accusing his batchmate, Arman Iqbal Khatri, of abetment, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes on June 1 closed its investigation into the matter. Sources said that the panel was “satisfied” with the report submitted by the Special Investigation Team. 

Mr. Solanki, a Dalit student from Ahmedabad, was a first-year Chemical Engineering student at IIT-B and died by suicide on February 12, amid allegations from his family members that he was subjected to various forms of caste-based discrimination during his time at the institute. 

After several calls for an investigation, by student activists and family members, an FIR was registered in the case and an SIT was formed to investigate. The Police eventually found a note, purportedly written by Mr. Solanki, blaming Mr. Khatri for his death. 

The police said they had found chats between the two showing they had fought over Mr. Solanki’s remarks against Mr. Khatri’s religion. A chargesheet was filed this week in a special court in Mumbai, charging Mr. Khatri with abetment to suicide and relevant sections of the SC/ST Act. 

Acknowledging the probe by the police as outlined in the chargesheet, the NCSC on June 1 decided to close its investigation into the case, which had been launched within two days of Mr. Solanki’s death. One of the sources said, “The Commission is “satisfied” with the probe conducted. Further, a chargesheet has been filed and now the matter is with the courts. Hence, the panel has closed its inquiry.”

Officials added, however, that the Commission will continue monitoring whether the compensation mandated under the SC/ST Act is transferred to the family. One official said this amount of a little over ₹4 lakh will be sent to the family within a week. 

Hours after the NCSC hearing in New Delhi, Rameshbhai Solanki, the 18-year-old’s father, told The Hindu that it was disappointing to see no authority was willing to probe the institutional causes for his son’s death.