The Special Investigating Team (SIT) of the Mumbai Police’s Crime Branch, which is investigating the suicide of IIT-Bombay student Darshan Solanki, has recently filed a 473-page chargesheet in the case before the Special SC/ST Court.
Arman Khatri, Solanki’s classmate who was previously arrested in the case, has been identified as an accused in the case.
The police stated that the chargesheet has been filed under Sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 506(2) (threat) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as Sections 3(2) (V) and 3(2) (Va) of the Scheduled Castes (SC) And Scheduled Tribes (ST) (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Darshan Solanki, a first-year chemical engineering student at IIT-Bombay, tragically took his own life by jumping off the seventh floor of his hostel building on February 12.
The incident sparked protests and demands for a police probe into the reasons leading to the suicide of the Dalit student.
To investigate the case, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the joint commissioner (crime) of the Mumbai Police was formed.
On April 9, the SIT arrested Arman Khatri on charges of abetment to suicide and under various sections of the SC/ST Act. Khatri was subsequently granted bail.
Two months after the suicide, a one-line note was discovered from Solanki’s room, stating, “Arman has killed me.”
The chargesheet includes 55 witnesses in the case, out of which 14 are students who resided on the same floor as Solanki in the hostel. Seven professors and associate professors have also been made witnesses.
The police have included WhatsApp chats between Solanki, Khatri, and a few others as evidence. Additionally, a paper cutter that Khatri allegedly used to indirectly threaten Solanki has been seized.
Solanki’s chat with Khatri reveals that the former was apologizing to Khatri for making communal remarks he had made and informed the accused that he was leaving Mumbai.
Solanki’s conversation with Khatri revealed that the former was apologetic for the communal remarks he had made, and that he was leaving Mumbai. According to a witness, the accused told Solanki, “I will come wherever you go” if he left Mumbai. Solanki was afraid after that. The police are making a case that these occurrences led to his suicide.
Statements from teachers regarding Solanki’s exams and marks have also been included in the chargesheet.
