3 hrs ago
IIT Bombay Professor Named in FIR After Student’s Death
Sahil Wakode was a 20-year-old student at IIT Bombay who died on September 18, 2026.
Before his death, Professor Suryanarayana Doolla was supervising an examination involving Wakode.
The institute says Wakode was found using a phone and sending the exam paper to an AI platform.
It says Doolla reported the incident according to academic rules.
IIT Bombay also says Wakode was counselled and that no disciplinary punishment had begun.
Wakode’s family says he faced harassment and caste-based discrimination.
The institute denies those allegations.
Police have registered a case and are investigating what happened.
The Mumbai Crime Branch is now handling the investigation, while faculty members have supported Doolla.
Professor Suryanarayana Doolla was named in a police case following the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode.
IIT Bombay says Wakode was found using a smartphone during a September 18, 2026, mid-semester examination and had uploaded the question paper to an AI platform.
The institute says Doolla reported the alleged examination malpractice, while Wakode was counselled and faced no disciplinary action before his death.
Wakode’s family has alleged harassment and caste-based discrimination; police are investigating those claims, which IIT Bombay denies.
The Mumbai Crime Branch has taken over the investigation, while the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has expressed solidarity with Doolla.
- Who
- Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, student Sahil Wakode, IIT Bombay, Wakode’s family, and investigating police.
- What
- Doolla was named in a police case after Wakode’s death following an examination-related incident and allegations of harassment and caste discrimination.
- Where
- IIT Bombay; the investigation is being handled by the Mumbai Crime Branch.
- When
- Wakode died on September 18, 2026; the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum issued its statement on September 20, 2026.
- Why
- The case followed allegations by Wakode’s family about harassment and caste discrimination, alongside the institute’s account of an alleged examination-malpractice incident.
Family and Investigation
IIT Bombay and Faculty Forum
Treatment of Sahil Wakode
Family and Investigation
Wakode’s family alleges that he faced harassment and caste-based discrimination.
IIT Bombay and Faculty Forum
IIT Bombay denies caste-discrimination allegations and disputes claims about the circumstances surrounding the examination incident.
Professor’s conduct during examination
Family and Investigation
The police case and investigation examine allegations connected to the treatment of Wakode after the examination incident.
IIT Bombay and Faculty Forum
IIT Bombay and its Faculty Forum say Doolla followed Senate-approved procedures by reporting alleged unauthorised phone use and examination malpractice.
Whether punishment had begun
Family and Investigation
The family’s complaint led to a police case concerning the events surrounding Wakode’s death.
IIT Bombay and Faculty Forum
IIT Bombay says Wakode was counselled, was assured the incident would not affect his academic career, and had not been subjected to disciplinary action before his death.
Key facts
- Professor
- Suryanarayana Doolla, a professor in IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering.
- Current role
- Dean of Administrative Affairs at IIT Bombay.
- Student
- Sahil Wakode, a 20-year-old second-year IIT Bombay student.
- Examination incident
- IIT Bombay says Wakode was found using a smartphone and uploading the question paper to an AI platform.
- Institute’s position
- IIT Bombay says Wakode was counselled, assured that the incident would not harm his academic career, and had not faced disciplinary action before his death.
- Family’s allegations
- Wakode’s family has alleged harassment and caste-based discrimination.
- Investigation
- The case has been taken over by the Mumbai Crime Branch.
Quotes
IIT Bombay Faculty Forum
A formal faculty body at IIT Bombay that issued a statement defending Doolla’s conduct.
“We strongly express our solidarity with our colleague Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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