Mumbai: IIT Bombay has suspended Professor Suryanarayana Doolla from his position as Dean (Administrative Affairs), days after the death by suicide of second-year student Sahil Wakode triggered protests on the campus.
The development was communicated to students through an email from IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh Kedare. Doolla has also been named in an FIR registered by Mumbai Police following a complaint filed by Sahil Wakode’s parents.
The FIR relates to allegations made by the student’s family, including claims of harassment and caste-based remarks. The allegations have not been established and remain subject to investigation.
Professor Named in FIR Filed After Student’s Death
According to the complaint filed by Sahil’s father, Professor Doolla allegedly harassed the student and used casteist remarks against him over a period of around three months.
Mumbai Police registered a case based on the complaint, invoking provisions related to abetment of suicide and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case has since come under investigation, with the allegations being examined by the authorities.
The student’s death occurred on September 18, hours after he was reportedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination.
IIT Bombay Faculty Forum Defends Professor
Amid the allegations, the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum expressed solidarity with Professor Doolla and defended his conduct during the examination.
The forum said Doolla was performing his responsibilities according to the institute’s approved academic policies after allegedly noticing that Sahil was using a smartphone without authorisation during the examination.
IIT Bombay had earlier said that Sahil, who was pursuing BTech in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers.
The institute maintained that no disciplinary action had been initiated against Sahil and said he was counselled by the instructor and Head of Department following the examination incident. Students, however, have disputed aspects of the institute’s account and demanded an independent investigation.
IIT Bombay Apologises Over Earlier Statement
Amid the protests, IIT Bombay also apologised for its earlier communication about the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death.
The institute said the details leading up to the death remained under investigation and acknowledged that it was inappropriate to characterise events before they had been established through the proper investigative process.
The suspension of Doolla from the deanship follows an 18-point charter of demands submitted by protesting students. The institute has agreed to several demands, while further action is expected to follow due process and the ongoing investigations.
Who Is Professor Suryanarayana Doolla?
Professor Suryanarayana Doolla is a faculty member of IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering and has held academic and administrative responsibilities at the institute.
His academic work focuses on areas including power electronics and power systems. He has previously served in administrative roles at IIT Bombay, including as Dean of Student Affairs, and has been associated with major academic activities at the institute.
Doolla completed his BTech in Electrical Engineering from Nagarjuna University in 2000, followed by an MTech in Energy Systems Engineering from IIT Bombay in 2002 and a PhD in Power Systems from IIT Delhi in 2007.
He joined IIT Bombay after working in the power and engineering sector and has since been involved in teaching, research and academic administration.
The police investigation will examine the allegations made by Sahil’s family, the circumstances surrounding his death and the events preceding it. IIT Bombay has maintained that the allegations of caste discrimination are not established, while the student’s family has sought accountability and a transparent investigation.