Archive · 21 Sep 2026
India roundup spans IIT probe, Sonia case, film, voter disputes
Several legal and political disputes were reported in India.
IIT-Bombay removed Suryanarayan Doolla from his dean position after student Sahil Wakode died by suicide.
Wakode’s family accused Doolla of caste-based discrimination, while the institute said Doolla would remain a teacher.
A Delhi court ordered a fresh hearing on a complaint against Sonia Gandhi about alleged forged voter-roll documents.
The government denied that it blocked 31 films from a documentary festival in Keralam.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the process used to check electoral rolls.
The Delhi High Court refused to order an investigation into cash found at former judge Yashwant Varma’s home.
A similar petition had already been dismissed by the Supreme Court.
IIT-Bombay removed professor Suryanarayan Doolla as dean after a student’s death by suicide and caste-discrimination allegations.
A Delhi court revived a petition seeking an FIR against Sonia Gandhi over alleged forged voter-roll documents.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry denied blocking 31 films from a Keralam documentary and short-film festival.
Mallikarjun Kharge called electoral-roll revisions flawed and questioned voter-rights removals, citing inclusion figures from West Bengal.
The Delhi High Court rejected a petition seeking a CBI probe into cash recovered from former judge Yashwant Varma’s residence.
- Who
- The people and institutions involved include Sahil Wakode’s family, Suryanarayan Doolla, IIT-Bombay, Sonia Gandhi, Vikas Tripathi, the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Mallikarjun Kharge, the Election Commission, and the Delhi High Court.
- What
- The roundup covers an IIT-Bombay administrative removal, a revived complaint against Sonia Gandhi, a dispute over film-screening permissions, criticism of electoral-roll revision, and rejection of a cash-probe petition.
- When
- Wakode died by suicide on Friday; the Delhi court order on the Sonia Gandhi matter was dated September 11, 2025; a similar cash-probe petition was dismissed by the Supreme Court on August 7.
- Where
- The events involve IIT-Bombay, Delhi courts, Keralam’s International Documentary and Short Film Festival, and electoral-roll proceedings in West Bengal.
- Why
- The actions and disputes arose from allegations of caste discrimination, alleged forged voter documents, disagreement over film permissions, concerns about electoral-roll revisions, and a request to investigate unaccounted cash.
Critics and complainants
Officials and courts
IIT-Bombay allegations
Critics and complainants
Wakode’s family alleged that Suryanarayan Doolla subjected him to caste-based discrimination for three months, allegedly on the instructions of IIT-Bombay Director Shireesh B Kedare.
Officials and courts
IIT-Bombay removed Doolla only from his administrative position, denied reports that Kedare had resigned, and said Doolla would remain teaching faculty.
Film-screening permissions
Critics and complainants
Keralam Culture Minister PC Vishnunadh alleged that the Union government denied permission for 31 films without giving reasons.
Officials and courts
The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting refuted the Keralam government’s allegations that the Centre had denied permission.
Electoral-roll revision
Critics and complainants
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge called the special intensive revision a flawed process that was stripping away voting rights and said BJP leaders had also received notices.
Officials and courts
The reported government-side position is represented by the Election Commission’s notices and the stated process of deciding appeals; the articles do not provide a direct Election Commission response to Kharge.
Cash investigation
Critics and complainants
The petitioner sought investigation into the source, ownership, custody, and disappearance of cash recovered from Yashwant Varma’s residence, as well as why it was not secured or preserved.
Officials and courts
The Delhi High Court rejected the petition, calling it a wild witch hunt; the Supreme Court had earlier dismissed a similar plea as being filed for cheap publicity.
- IIT-Bombay action
- Suryanarayan Doolla was removed as dean but will remain on the teaching faculty.
- Student
- Sahil Wakode, aged 20, died by suicide on Friday.
- Sonia Gandhi petition
- A Delhi court ordered a fresh, reasoned decision on a petition seeking an FIR over alleged forged voter-roll documents.
- Film festival
- The dispute concerns 31 films at the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival.
- Electoral rolls
- Mallikarjun Kharge said 93% of decided appeals in West Bengal resulted in inclusions.
- Cash-probe petition
- The Delhi High Court rejected a plea seeking an FIR and CBI investigation into cash recovered from Yashwant Varma’s residence.