Archive · 22 Sep 2026
IIT Bombay Professor Suspended Amid Caste Discrimination Allegations
Students are protesting after 20-year-old Sahil Wakode died by suicide.
His parents said he faced caste-based discrimination from Professor Suryanarayana Doolla.
Mumbai Police filed a case based on their complaint.
IIT Bombay temporarily removed Doolla from his role as Dean of Administrative Affairs.
Some faculty members support Doolla and reject the discrimination allegations.
Professor Pravesh Biyani said he had never personally seen a teacher discriminate against a student because of caste.
He also said students and teachers he knew generally treated students equally.
The article presents competing claims, and it does not establish the final findings of the investigation.
Mumbai Police registered an FIR against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla after Sahil Wakode’s parents alleged caste-based discrimination.
IIT Bombay temporarily suspended Doolla as Dean of Administrative Affairs with immediate effect.
Student protests are seeking Doolla’s suspension following the death by suicide of 20-year-old student Sahil Wakode.
Several IIT faculty members publicly supported Doolla and rejected allegations of caste discrimination at IITs.
IIT Bombay alumnus and professor Pravesh Biyani said he had never witnessed caste-based discrimination during 22 years of observing the IIT and IIIT system.
- Who
- Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, student Sahil Wakode, Wakode’s parents, IIT Bombay, Mumbai Police, protesting students, and supporting faculty members.
- What
- Doolla faces an FIR and temporary suspension amid allegations of caste-based discrimination following Wakode’s death by suicide.
- When
- The protests are ongoing, and IIT Bombay announced the temporary suspension on Monday; the article does not specify the date.
- Where
- IIT Bombay in Mumbai, with the allegations concerning the IIT system.
- Why
- Wakode’s parents alleged caste-based discrimination, while protesters seek action against Doolla and some faculty members reject the allegations.
Students and Wakode’s Family
Doolla’s Supporters
Caste-discrimination allegations
Students and Wakode’s Family
Wakode’s parents alleged that their son was subjected to caste-based discrimination by Professor Doolla, and students are protesting for action against him.
Doolla’s Supporters
Several IIT faculty members rejected allegations of caste-based discrimination at IITs, while Pravesh Biyani said he had never witnessed such discrimination during his stated period of observation.
Meaning of personal experience
Students and Wakode’s Family
The FIR and protests reflect allegations that discrimination occurred in Wakode’s case, regardless of whether other faculty members say they did not personally observe such behavior.
Doolla’s Supporters
Biyani argued from his own experience as a student and professor that teachers treated students equally and that caste generally did not enter classroom interactions.
- Professor named
- Suryanarayana Doolla
- Student named
- Sahil Wakode, aged 20
- Police action
- Mumbai Police registered an FIR based on a complaint from Wakode’s parents.
- Institutional action
- IIT Bombay temporarily suspended Doolla from his position as Dean of Administrative Affairs.
- Protest demand
- Students are seeking Doolla’s suspension.
- Supporting professor
- IIT Bombay alumnus Pravesh Biyani said he had never witnessed caste-based discrimination by a teacher in 22 years of observing the IIT and IIIT system.