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IIT Bombay Professor Challenges Faculty Defence Amid Student Death Probe
A group of IIT Bombay faculty members defended Professor Suryanarayana Doolla.
They said he followed institute rules during an examination.
Professor Suryakant Waghmore said he did not agree with the group’s statement.
He questioned whether the Faculty Forum had legal authority to speak for faculty members.
He also said the forum was putting pressure on the committee investigating the matter.
Waghmore questioned whether the forum’s president, Rajkumar S. Pant, had proper authority because elections were overdue.
He criticized the statement for showing too little sympathy toward Sahil Wakode’s family and others grieving his death.
The circumstances of Wakode’s death are still being investigated.
Professor Suryakant Waghmore distanced himself from the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum’s support for Professor Suryanarayana Doolla.
Waghmore called the Faculty Forum a non-legal body and accused it of pressuring the investigation committee.
He questioned Professor Rajkumar S. Pant’s authority, alleging that overdue Faculty Forum elections had not been held.
The Faculty Forum said Doolla followed Senate-approved procedures after reporting a student allegedly using a smartphone during an examination.
The circumstances surrounding second-year student Sahil Wakode’s death remain under investigation by the appropriate authorities.
- Who
- IIT Bombay professors Suryakant Waghmore, Suryanarayana Doolla and Rajkumar S. Pant, along with the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum.
- What
- Waghmore rejected the Faculty Forum’s defence of Doolla and challenged the forum’s status, authority and intervention in the investigation.
- Where
- IIT Bombay in Mumbai.
- When
- Waghmore’s comments were posted on September 21, 2026, after the Faculty Forum’s September 20 statement.
- Why
- Waghmore said the Faculty Forum was taking sides, pressuring the investigation committee and lacking clear legal and representative authority.
Waghmore’s objections
Faculty Forum’s defence
Forum’s authority
Waghmore’s objections
Waghmore said the Faculty Forum was not a legal body, that not all faculty identified with it and that overdue elections raised questions about Pant’s authority.
Faculty Forum’s defence
The Faculty Forum issued a statement through its president, Rajkumar S. Pant, presenting its position in support of Doolla.
Role in the investigation
Waghmore’s objections
Waghmore accused the forum of building pressure on the investigation committee and taking sides in a matter still under review.
Faculty Forum’s defence
The forum said it was defending Doolla against what it described as the tarnishing of his reputation.
Doolla’s examination conduct
Waghmore’s objections
Waghmore objected to the forum’s intervention and said its statement showed insufficient sympathy toward Wakode and those grieving his death.
Faculty Forum’s defence
The Faculty Forum said Doolla acted according to Senate-approved academic policies after reporting an alleged smartphone violation to institute authorities.
Key facts
- Institution
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Student
- Second-year student Sahil Wakode
- Faculty Forum statement
- Issued September 20, expressing solidarity with Professor Suryanarayana Doolla
- Waghmore’s response
- Posted on X and sent by email on September 21, 2026
- Examination incident
- Doolla reportedly observed a student allegedly possessing and using a smartphone during the September 18 mid-semester examination
- Investigation status
- Allegations concerning the circumstances of Wakode’s death remain under investigation
- Legal warning
- Waghmore said he would consider legal action over further mass emails from the Faculty Forum
Quotes
Suryakant Waghmore
IIT Bombay professor of sociology who criticized the Faculty Forum’s intervention.
“Last I heard, faculty forum is not a legal body. Please stop sending mass emails before you clarify, your legal status,”
freepressjournal.in
“Someone pursue legal action against Prof. Pant who is not even an elected member of this body.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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