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Candlelight vigil in Mumbai for deceased IIT Bombay student

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · Oct 25, 2026

Is it still on?

NOIt was a one-day action on Oct 25.

Last report · checked

Summary in three lines

Why they are protesting
Protesters gathered to pay tribute to a deceased IIT Bombay student and demand justice regarding allegations of caste discrimination.
What they want
Demand an impartial investigation, the arrest of accused faculty members, and the resignation of the IIT Bombay director.
What changed
Oct 25: Mumbai Police detained about 140 people during unauthorized candlelight gatherings and protests at Shivaji Park and Chaityabhoomi.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • Justice for Sahil Wakode
  • Impartial investigation into the student's death
  • Arrest of accused faculty members
  • Resignation of the IIT Bombay director

Organised by: Progressive Students Union, Adivasi Gen Z

What authorities say

Police stated that the gatherings lacked the necessary permissions and detained approximately 140 people at Shivaji Park and Chaityabhoomi as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order. Those detained were later released.1234

The numbers

Only figures a source states, with who said it. Estimates often differ.

Arrests / detentions
140
A total of 140 people were detained at Shivaji Park and Chaityabhoomi.14

The full story

On October 25, 2026, police in Mumbai detained around 140 people during unauthorized candlelight gatherings and protests held at Shivaji Park and Chaityabhoomi. Among those detained at the Chaityabhoomi site in Dadar was stand-up comedian Masoom Rajwani, alongside other participants who had assembled for a candle march in memory of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide on September 18. Simultaneously, about 120 people were rounded up at Shivaji Park during a separate gathering. Protesters and student groups accused the institute of caste-based discrimination and demanded the arrest of professors named in a police complaint, as well as the resignation of the IIT Bombay director. Protesters also alleged that participants were manhandled by police during the dispersal. According to authorities, the gatherings lacked necessary permissions and actions were taken to maintain law and order, with those detained subsequently released from police stations later in the evening.

Timeline

  1. Mumbai Police detained about 140 people during unauthorized candlelight vigils and protests at Shivaji Park and Chaityabhoomi.1234

Pins sit on city centres, never on gathering points

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