IIT Bombay Dean Suryanarayana Doolla Suspended Amid Student Death Probe
IIT Bombay Dean of Student Affairs Professor Suryanarayana Doolla has reportedly been suspended with immediate effect amid the investigation into the death of a student. The institute’s Director, Shirish B Kedare, said any further action would be taken after the investigation
The death of second-year IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode has triggered protests on campus, questions from his family and an investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch. The 20-year-old BTech student from the Energy Science and Engineering department died on September 18, hours after he was allegedly found with a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination.
What Happened Before the Student’s Death?
According to IIT Bombay’s earlier account, Sahil was allegedly found using a mobile phone during an examination. The institute said he had allegedly uploaded the question paper to an AI platform to seek answers. It also said that the instructor and Head of Department counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career. No disciplinary action had been initiated against him, according to the institute.
Sahil later returned to his hostel room and was found dead that evening.
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Parents Reject Cheating Allegation, Demand Proof
Sahil’s parents have disputed the institute’s account that their son was cheating during the examination. In an interaction with a media organization, his father demanded evidence to establish exactly what Sahil was accused of doing.
“Give us proof of cheating. What cheating he was doing, at least give us some proof,” his father said, adding that the family would not accept the allegation without evidence.
The family has also demanded that CCTV footage from the examination venue be examined to establish what happened inside and immediately outside the exam hall. His father said the footage would help establish whether the allegation was correct.
Sahil’s father also rejected the suggestion that academic pressure was responsible for his son’s death, saying his son was doing well academically and that he had not experienced pressure related to his studies.
His mother said she had spoken to Sahil on Thursday, a day before his death, and that he sounded relaxed during their conversation. She questioned the institute’s account of the events and said the family wanted answers about what happened to their son.
Parents Allege Caste-Based Discrimination
The parents have also alleged that Sahil had spoken to them about difficulties and caste-based discrimination that he was allegedly facing on campus.
Based on a complaint filed by his father, Mumbai Police registered an FIR invoking Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to abetment of suicide, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and other institute officials were named in the complaint.
IIT Bombay, however, has denied allegations of caste discrimination. Its SC/ST Students and Staff Cell has also said that no complaint relating to caste-based discrimination had been lodged by Sahil with the cell.
Crime Branch Takes Over Investigation
Following the parents’ demands, the investigation into Sahil’s death has been transferred from the Powai police to the Mumbai Crime Branch. The decision came after the student’s parents sought a thorough investigation and initially refused to claim his body at Rajawadi Hospital. Police later assured the family that the Crime Branch would investigate the case.
The FIR registered on the basis of the parents’ complaint remains part of the ongoing investigation. The allegations made by the family have not been established by the investigation so far.
Students Stage Protests on Campus
The incident has also led to sustained protests by IIT Bombay students. Students have questioned the institute’s handling of the examination incident and demanded an independent investigation, greater accountability and changes in student welfare and disciplinary procedures.
The protesting students submitted an 18-point charter of demands to the institute administration. Among their demands was action against Professor Doolla and an apology from the institute over its earlier communication about Sahil’s death.
IIT Bombay Apologises
IIT Bombay has since apologised for its earlier statement concerning Sahil’s death.
The institute said it was inappropriate to characterise details about events preceding his death before they had been established through the appropriate investigative process. It said the circumstances leading to the incident remain under investigation.
Dean’s Deanship Suspended
Amid the protests, IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare informed students that the deanship of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla had been suspended with immediate effect.
The institute said further action would be taken after the investigation. Doolla was the invigilator during the examination in which Sahil was allegedly found with a mobile phone and has been named in the FIR filed by Sahil’s parents.
Students, however, have said that their demand was for Doolla’s suspension as a professor, rather than only his removal from an administrative position.
Investigation Continues
The circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death, the examination incident and the allegations made by his family remain under investigation.
For now, the Crime Branch probe is expected to establish what happened during the examination and in the hours that followed. IIT Bombay has said it will cooperate with the authorities and has urged people to avoid speculation while the investigation is underway.
Anjali is an education journalist with over a year of experience in digital and business journalism. She has previously worked with BW Businessworld and ANI, where she gained experience in news writing, editing, research, and fact-checking. At Jagran Josh, she writes education news and covers competitive exams and current affairs, with a keen interest in delivering accurate, informative, and reader-focused content. She holds a BA from Miranda House, University of Delhi, and a postgraduate diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). Anjali enjoys reading and exploring new ideas and perspectives through books.
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