Mumbai: IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla has been sent on leave as the institute faces growing scrutiny over the death of 22-year-old BTech student Sahil Wakode.
The decision comes as the Mumbai Crime Branch investigates Wakode’s death and allegations made against Doolla. The professor had earlier been removed from his position as Dean of Administrative Affairs following protests on the campus.
IIT Bombay’s Board of Governors has also constituted a 10-member committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the student’s death. The panel, headed by Professor Ramesh Venkateswaran, chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Palakkad, has been asked to submit its report within a week.
What Happened to Sahil Wakode?
Wakode, a second-year BTech student in IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room on the evening of September 18.
According to officials and reports, the student had been caught allegedly using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination earlier that day. Doolla was reportedly invigilating the examination.
The circumstances surrounding what happened between the examination and Wakode’s death are now part of the investigation.
Why Has Professor Doolla Become a Focus?
Doolla's involvement in the examination placed him at the centre of the controversy following Wakode’s death.
A police case has been registered against the professor alleging abetment of suicide and caste-based discrimination. These are allegations under investigation and have not been established by a court.
Wakode’s mother has alleged that her son had told the family that he was subjected to abuse, humiliation and harassment because of his caste. The family has also demanded action against Doolla and IIT Bombay Director Professor Shirish Kedare.
The professor has not been found guilty of the allegations.
IIT Bombay Removes Doolla From Administrative Role
Before the decision to send him on leave, IIT Bombay had removed Doolla from his position as Dean of Administrative Affairs amid student protests.
The institute also apologised for an earlier statement concerning the circumstances of Wakode’s death, saying that commenting on the matter while it was under investigation was inappropriate. It has also agreed to review aspects of its examination and student-support procedures.
The latest decision to place Doolla on leave is intended to facilitate an impartial investigation, according to reports.
IIT Bombay Sets Up 10-Member Inquiry Panel
The institute’s Board of Governors has now moved to conduct a broader review of the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death.
The committee includes faculty members, an administrator, a psychiatrist and student representatives. It has been asked to complete its inquiry within a week.
The institute is expected to consider the committee’s findings before deciding on further action.
Student Protests Continue
Wakode’s death triggered protests by students demanding greater accountability and changes to institutional procedures.
However, student representatives have also stressed that asking for Doolla to be temporarily relieved of his administrative responsibilities should not be interpreted as a finding of guilt. Some students have specifically called for a fair and impartial investigation into the matter.
This distinction is significant as the investigation is still underway.
Crime Branch Investigation
The Mumbai Crime Branch is currently investigating Wakode’s death.
The investigation is expected to examine the events surrounding the examination, the interaction between the student and faculty members, subsequent events on campus and the allegations made by the student’s family.
The findings of the police investigation and the institute-appointed committee will be important in establishing what happened and whether any individual or institutional actions contributed to the circumstances surrounding the death.
What Happens Next?
Professor Doolla’s leave will remain in place while the investigation proceeds, according to reports.
The 10-member committee is expected to submit its findings within a week, after which IIT Bombay’s Board of Governors will consider what further action, if any, should be taken.
For now, the allegations against Doolla remain allegations, and the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death are still being investigated.
The case has also prompted a wider discussion about examination practices, student grievance mechanisms, academic pressure and how institutions respond when students face disciplinary proceedings.
As the investigations continue, the focus will be on establishing the facts rather than drawing conclusions before the evidence has been examined.
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