More than three years following the tragic suicide of IIT-Bombay student Darshan Solanki, a special court has formally issued charges against another student, Arman Khatri, for purportedly encouraging the suicide and for criminal intimidation, thus initiating the trial process.<\/p>\n
The charges against Khatri include violations of sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 506(2) (aggravated criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, in addition to provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Khatri has entered a plea of not guilty, and the trial is set to begin.<\/p>\n
On February 12, 2023, the 18-year-old Solanki reportedly leaped from the eighth floor of his hostel at the IIT-B campus located in Powai. Following this incident, a Special Investigation Team was established to examine the circumstances surrounding his death, during which it was alleged that Solanki had made a communal comment during an interaction with Khatri.<\/p>\n
According to police reports, Khatri threatened Solanki with a paper cutter. A note was later discovered in Solanki\u2019s room on March 3, 2023, in which he stated, \u201cArman has killed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Khatri, who was also 18 at the time of the incident, was taken into custody on April 9, 2023, and subsequently released on bail by a sessions court on May 6, 2023. The court observed that there was insufficient evidence to suggest that Khatri had harassed Solanki based on caste or had incited him to take his own life. Following his release, Khatri returned to his studies at the institute.<\/p>\n
Special Public Prosecutor Prakash Salsingikar presented the draft charges against Khatri in court, which were based on the evidence outlined in the chargesheet, including witness testimonies and the note found in Solanki\u2019s room. During the proceedings on Wednesday, these charges were read and explained to Khatri, who maintained his not guilty plea. Khatri\u2019s attorney, Wahab Khan, also submitted a request for the prosecution to disclose documents that were not included in the chargesheet.<\/p>\n
In 2025, Khatri sought to have the criminal charges against him dismissed in the Bombay High Court, but later withdrew his application.<\/p>\n
An interim report prepared by IIT-Bombay regarding the incident indicated that there was no concrete evidence of caste-based discrimination faced by Solanki at the institution. However, his family has requested a thorough investigation, citing that Solanki had shared concerns about the atmosphere at the institute during their regular phone calls.<\/p>\n
Sadaf Modak is a prominent Legal Correspondent based in Mumbai, recognized for her expertise in covering the complexities of the judicial and correctional systems. Reporting for The Indian Express, she is a trusted source for comprehensive insights into courtroom activities and human rights matters.<\/p>\n
Her specialized role as a Legal Correspondent equips her with extensive knowledge of legal processes, enhancing the authority of her reports. Modak focuses on trial court proceedings in Mumbai, providing vital coverage of the legal landscape, including both significant criminal cases and everyday occurrences that highlight the human aspect of the justice system.<\/p>\n
Beyond courtroom coverage, her dedication to social justice encompasses various topics, including prison conditions, juvenile justice, and human rights, particularly in relation to law enforcement and state institutions.<\/p>\n
As a reporter for The Indian Express, a leading national publication, Modak’s work adheres to rigorous editorial standards, ensuring accuracy and impartiality. Her attention to detail and focus on trial courts offer readers clear and insightful perspectives on the justice system, further establishing her as an authoritative figure in Indian legal journalism.<\/p>\n
Follow Sadaf Modak on Twitter @sadafmodak for updates.<\/p>\n
Stay informed on the latest developments by following us on Instagram.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
More than three years following the tragic suicide of IIT-Bombay student Darshan Solanki, a special court has formally issued charges against another student, Arman Khatri, for purportedly encouraging the suicide and for criminal intimidation, thus initiating the trial process. The charges against Khatri include violations of sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 506(2) (aggravated criminal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10183,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[78,40,144],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-cities","category-india","category-in-mumbai"],"yoast_head":"\n