Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Mumbai Crime Branch Takes Over IIT Bombay Student Death Probe
A second-year student at IIT Bombay was found dead in a hostel room after an exam.
Police are treating the death as an alleged suicide and have moved the investigation to the Crime Branch.
The student’s father accused a professor of harassment and casteist insults.
Police filed a case naming the professor.
The institute said the student had used a phone during an exam to ask ChatGPT for answers.
It said the student was counselled and that no disciplinary action had begun.
Faculty members said the professor followed the institute’s rules.
Students protested and asked the institute to be more accountable and transparent.
Mumbai Police transferred the alleged suicide case of an IIT Bombay second-year BTech student to the Crime Branch.
The student’s father filed a complaint alleging harassment and casteist slurs by Professor Suryanarayan Dulla.
Police registered an FIR naming Dulla, who was the exam invigilator involved in the complaint.
IIT Bombay said the student had used an unauthorised smartphone and uploaded an exam paper to ChatGPT, but faced no disciplinary action.
The Faculty Forum backed Dulla’s conduct, while students protested for accountability and transparency from the institute.
- Who
- A second-year IIT Bombay BTech student, the student’s father, Professor Suryanarayan Dulla, Mumbai Police, IIT Bombay’s Faculty Forum, and protesting students.
- What
- Mumbai Police transferred the alleged suicide investigation to the Crime Branch, and an FIR was registered naming Professor Dulla.
- When
- The student allegedly died on a Friday evening; the exam referenced by the institute took place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 18.
- Where
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in Mumbai, India.
- Why
- The transfer followed the student’s father’s complaint alleging harassment and casteist slurs by the professor.
Student’s Family and Protesters
Professor and IIT Bombay Faculty Forum
Treatment of the student
Student’s Family and Protesters
The student’s father alleged that Professor Dulla harassed the student and used casteist slurs over three months.
Professor and IIT Bombay Faculty Forum
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum expressed solidarity with Dulla and said he was performing his duties under Senate-approved academic policies.
Exam incident and procedure
Student’s Family and Protesters
Students demanded accountability and transparency from the administration after the student’s death.
Professor and IIT Bombay Faculty Forum
The Faculty Forum said Dulla reported the student’s unauthorised smartphone use according to institute procedure; IIT Bombay said the student was counselled and faced no disciplinary action.
- Investigator
- Mumbai Police Crime Branch
- Student
- Second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay
- FIR subject
- Professor and exam invigilator Suryanarayan Dulla
- Family allegations
- Harassment and casteist slurs over three months
- Exam incident
- IIT Bombay said the student used an unauthorised smartphone and uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT
- Institute position
- The student was counselled, and no disciplinary action was initiated
- Campus response
- Students held a late-night protest demanding accountability and transparency
