Archive · 22 Sep 2026
IIT Bombay Protests Grow as Faculty Defends Professor Doolla
Sahil Ravindra Wakode was a student at IIT Bombay who was found dead in his hostel room after an examination.
Police are studying security-camera videos to understand what happened that day.
The videos reportedly show Sahil leaving the examination hall and going to his hostel room.
A professor, Suryanarayana Doolla, had questioned Sahil during the examination after he was allegedly seen using a mobile phone.
Sahil’s family says he faced harassment and caste-related discrimination.
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum says Doolla was doing his job and that Sahil had not complained to the institute’s SC/ST Cell.
Students say their protests are about the process followed afterward, not about supporting cheating.
They want an independent investigation, better student support and changes to disciplinary procedures.
Doolla lost his administrative dean position but remains a professor while the investigation continues.
Sahil Ravindra Wakode, 22, was found dead in his IIT Bombay hostel room on September 18 after leaving an examination.
Mumbai Police Crime Branch is reviewing CCTV footage showing Sahil in the exam hall from about 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. and reaching his hostel around 1:25 p.m.
Faculty Forum president Rajkumar S Pant defended Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and said Sahil had not approached IIT Bombay’s SC/ST Cell before his death.
Sahil’s family has alleged prolonged harassment and caste-based discrimination, while police have booked Doolla under relevant caste-discrimination and abetment-to-suicide provisions.
Students are seeking an independent inquiry and reforms, while faculty groups say Doolla followed examination procedures and should not be judged before the investigation ends.
- Who
- IIT Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode, Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, Faculty Forum president Rajkumar S. Pant, protesting students and the Mumbai Police Crime Branch.
- What
- Protests and counter-protests followed Sahil’s death amid allegations of harassment and caste discrimination, a disputed examination incident and an ongoing police investigation.
- When
- Sahil was found dead on September 18; Doolla was relieved of his dean duties on September 21, while protests and the investigation continued afterward.
- Where
- IIT Bombay in Mumbai, including the examination hall, campus and hostel.
- Why
- Students are questioning the institute’s handling of the examination incident and seeking accountability and reforms, while faculty groups defend Doolla’s reported response to suspected academic malpractice.
Student Concerns and Allegations
Faculty Defense and Due Process
Alleged harassment and discrimination
Student Concerns and Allegations
Sahil’s family alleges that Doolla harassed him over a period of months and made caste-based remarks; students are demanding accountability.
Faculty Defense and Due Process
Pant said he was not present for the alleged comments, said the claims should be investigated before conclusions are reached and said he saw no merit in the allegations.
Examination response
Student Concerns and Allegations
Students are questioning how the institute handled the incident after Sahil was allegedly caught using a mobile phone, while stressing that their protest does not support cheating.
Faculty Defense and Due Process
Pant and faculty groups say teachers must act against suspected unfair means to protect students who follow examination rules.
Handling of the investigation
Student Concerns and Allegations
Students want an independent third-party inquiry, changes to disciplinary procedures, stronger mental-health services and protection for protesters.
Faculty Defense and Due Process
The Faculty Forum says Doolla should not be judged through public or social-media pressure before the police investigation establishes what happened.
- Student
- Sahil Ravindra Wakode, 22, was found dead in his IIT Bombay hostel room on September 18.
- CCTV timeline
- Police said Sahil was in the examination hall from about 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m., reached his hostel around 1:25 p.m. and was not seen leaving afterward.
- Faculty Forum position
- Rajkumar S. Pant said Doolla followed institute procedures after allegedly detecting unfair means during the examination.
- SC/ST Cell
- Pant said the SC/ST Cell had received no complaint or approach from Sahil in the months before his death.
- Police investigation
- The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is examining CCTV footage from the examination hall, campus and hostel.
- Doolla’s status
- Doolla was relieved of his duties as Dean of Administrative Affairs but continues as a professor in good standing.
- Student demands
- Students submitted an 18-point charter seeking an independent inquiry, disciplinary reforms, greater representation and improved mental-health support.
