IIT-Bombay student suicide | Instagram chat shows caste-based discrimination: Solanki’s father writes to SIT

“It is telling of the fact that in Darshan’s experience in IIT-Bombay, people stopped liking him after they learned that he was a reserved category student. This is yet another evidence of caste discrimination faced by him in a line of so many that have already been revealed, which shows that he was isolated, taunted and ostracised due to his caste,” the letter said, annexing a screenshot of the chat.

The letter further said that this emphasises that Darshan was facing caste-based discrimination as others, including a fellow student and his family, had also spoken about the harassment he was facing.

It said that Solanki wanted to change his room due to the harassment and had even told his sister about his peers mocking him and having reduced their interaction with him after finding out his caste.

“I am highly appalled to see that SIT continues to sideline the caste-based discrimination incidents my son has faced when there is overwhelming evidence pointing it…,” the letter said, adding that the SIT should probe this.

The letter said that it was concerning that the police had ruled out caste-based discrimination on finding a hand-written note from Darshan’s room, naming Armaan Khatri, a student arrested for abetting Solanki’s suicide.

It also sought for the police to provide cloned copies of the seized electronic devices belonging to Darshan, stating that it may reveal more such instances of discrimination or it “will be buried under the guise of investigation”.