Archive · 21 Sep 2026
IIT Bombay Faculty Forum Backs Professor Amid Student Death Case
Sahil Wakode was a 20-year-old student at IIT Bombay.
He died after an incident connected to a mid-semester exam.
The institute said he was allegedly using a mobile phone during the exam.
It also said he uploaded the question paper to an AI platform for answers.
IIT Bombay later apologised for its earlier statements and said the case was still being investigated.
Sahil’s family said he faced harassment because of his caste.
They named Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and others in a complaint.
Police opened a case using parts of India’s law protecting Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
A faculty forum supported the accused professor and held a march on campus, while IIT Bombay denied caste discrimination.
The death of 20-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode has sparked campus protests and debate.
Wakode was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a September 18 mid-semester examination.
IIT Bombay said he uploaded the question paper to an AI platform, then apologised for earlier statements about his death.
Wakode’s family alleged caste-based harassment and named Professor Suryanarayana Doolla in a complaint.
Police registered an FIR under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, while IIT Bombay denied caste discrimination.
- Who
- Sahil Wakode, a 20-year-old IIT Bombay student; his family; Professor Suryanarayana Doolla; IIT Bombay; and the campus faculty forum.
- What
- Wakode’s death has prompted protests, a police FIR, and debate over alleged exam malpractice, caste-based harassment, and student-faculty relations.
- When
- Wakode was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination on September 18; subsequent protests and investigations followed.
- Where
- IIT Bombay campus.
- Why
- The controversy involves the alleged use of a phone and AI platform during an exam, as well as the family’s allegations of caste-based harassment.
Family and Accusation
IIT Bombay and Faculty Supporters
Caste-based harassment
Family and Accusation
Wakode’s family alleged that he faced caste-based harassment and filed a complaint naming Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and others.
IIT Bombay and Faculty Supporters
IIT Bombay denied caste discrimination and said no such complaint had been submitted to its SC/ST cell or administration.
Exam-related allegations
Family and Accusation
The exam incident is part of the broader controversy surrounding Wakode’s death and the treatment of students on campus.
IIT Bombay and Faculty Supporters
IIT Bombay said Wakode was allegedly using a mobile phone and had uploaded the question paper to an AI platform to seek answers.
Accountability and support
Family and Accusation
The police registered an FIR under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act following the family’s allegations.
IIT Bombay and Faculty Supporters
The faculty forum backed the accused professor and held a campus march; IIT Bombay said the circumstances of the death remained under investigation.
- Student
- Sahil Wakode, 20, a second-year student in IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering
- Exam incident
- He was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination on September 18
- Institute statement
- IIT Bombay said Wakode uploaded the question paper to an AI platform to seek answers
- Investigation
- IIT Bombay apologised for earlier statements about the circumstances of his death and said the matter remained under investigation
- Family allegation
- Wakode’s family alleged caste-based harassment and named Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, among others
- Police action
- Police registered an FIR invoking provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
- Faculty response
- The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum backed the accused professor and held a campus march