Archive · 21 Sep 2026
IIT Bombay Faculty Backs Doolla Amid Student Suicide Protests
A student at IIT Bombay died by suicide on September 18.
The student was found hanging in a hostel room on the Powai campus.
Students then held protests at the institute.
Police registered a case against a professor after the student’s parents alleged caste discrimination and harassment.
Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla was removed from his administrative dean position.
IIT Bombay’s Faculty Forum said he was not suspended from the institute.
The forum said he should be allowed to remain a faculty member while an independent investigation takes place.
It also said reports criticizing him were false or misleading and that faculty members were deeply saddened by the student’s death.
IIT Bombay’s Faculty Forum said it strongly supports Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla.
Doolla was removed as Dean (Administrative Affairs) after a student’s September 18 suicide.
The forum said Doolla remains an IIT Bombay faculty member and was not suspended.
Students protested, while police registered a case against a professor over alleged caste discrimination and harassment.
Faculty members said media reports had falsely and misleadingly vilified Doolla, while expressing grief over the student’s death.
- Who
- Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year BTech student, died; Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla was removed from his administrative dean role; IIT Bombay’s Faculty Forum supported him.
- What
- A student’s suicide led to campus protests, a police case involving alleged caste discrimination and harassment, and Doolla’s removal as Dean (Administrative Affairs).
- When
- The student died on September 18; the Faculty Forum issued its statement on September 21. One supplied report refers to the year as 2026.
- Where
- IIT Bombay’s Powai campus in Mumbai, including the student’s hostel room.
- Why
- Doolla was temporarily relieved of his dean duties to enable an independent, unbiased investigation, according to the Faculty Forum.
Faculty Forum’s Position
Protests and Allegations
Doolla’s status
Faculty Forum’s Position
The Faculty Forum said Doolla continues as an IIT Bombay faculty member in good standing and was only temporarily relieved of his dean duties.
Protests and Allegations
His removal as Dean (Administrative Affairs) followed protests and pressure after the student’s death.
Media coverage
Faculty Forum’s Position
Faculty members said media reports had falsely and misleadingly vilified Doolla’s reputation.
Protests and Allegations
Reports and public protests focused on allegations connected to the student’s death and the police case against a professor.
Investigation
Faculty Forum’s Position
The forum said relieving Doolla from his administrative role would enable an independent and unbiased investigation.
Protests and Allegations
The student’s parents alleged caste discrimination and harassment, leading to a police case under criminal and Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe protections.
- Student
- Sahil Ravindra Wakode, 22, a second-year BTech student
- Institution
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Date of death
- September 18
- Location
- Hostel room on IIT Bombay’s Powai campus
- Faculty position
- Doolla was removed as Dean (Administrative Affairs) but, according to the forum, was not suspended from IIT Bombay
- Police case
- Registered against a professor under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
- Faculty Forum
- A formal IIT Bombay body with more than 750 members
