Student suicide: IIT Bombay apologises for earlier statement, suspends deanship of professor
Three days after student protests erupted at IIT Bombay following the death by suicide of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode, the institute on Monday apologised for statements in its earlier communication about the circumstances surrounding his death. “We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil,” the institute said in a statement.
IIT Bombay also suspended the deanship of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla with immediate effect on Monday. Doolla was named in the FIR filed over the case.
The campus remained tense on Monday, with students demanding an independent inquiry, changes to disciplinary procedures and greater safeguards for students. The institute’s Board of Governors is also scheduled to hold an emergency meeting, after which Kedare is expected to hold an open house with students.
Wakode was found dead in his hostel room on Friday, hours after a mid-semester examination.
In a statement on Saturday, IIT Bombay said he had uploaded the question paper for the exam to ChatGPT from his phone to seek answers. He was subsequently spoken to by the instructor and department head, counselled and assured that the incident would not affect his academic career, the institute said. “No disciplinary action was initiated against the student,” it added.
The earlier statement, however, remained on IIT Bombay’s X account despite the latest communication. It had drawn widespread criticism from students, who called it insensitive and questioned the institute’s handling of the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death. Kedare signed an 18-point charter of demands late Sunday night following a meeting with the protesting students.
Wakode’s parents have alleged that he faced caste-based discrimination and harassment at IIT Bombay. Based on their complaint, police registered an FIR naming Doolla and others under provisions related to abetment of suicide and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. IIT Bombay has denied the caste-discrimination allegation, saying Wakode had made no complaint to its SC/ST Students and Staff Cell. The allegations are part of an ongoing police investigation and have not been established. Doolla has also stepped down from his position at IIT Bombay after being named in the FIR.
Political voices rally behind professor
he institute’s Faculty Forum has rallied behind Doolla, who was invigilating the examination. The forum opposed action against him, saying he was carrying out his responsibilities under institutional rules after finding Wakode in “unauthorised possession and use of a smartphone” during the examination.
“The Faculty Forum of IIT Bombay is absolutely distressed with the tarnishing of the reputation of our colleague Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla, who was merely discharging his academic duties, and following the institute approved procedures,” a statement issued by the forum said.
Political figures and public personalities have also backed Doolla, questioning the action against him while the allegations of caste-based discrimination remain under investigation.
BJP’s Tenkasi district president Ananthan Ayyasamy wrote on X, “I strongly oppose the charges against Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla of IIT Bombay under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,” and called for the case to be withdrawn.
He also alleged that the law was being “weaponised” in the case.
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, reposting Ayyasamy’s statement, wrote: “I deeply respect Ananthan’s principled stand in this matter. Prof Suryanarayana Doolla should not be subject to this.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also weighed in, questioning the decision to hold professors accountable for reporting alleged copying during an examination.
“While the death of the IIT Bombay student is extremely unfortunate and yet another reminder that these premier institutions need to work on the campus environment and mental health but to sack the professors to end the protests is just a band aid solution to a problem that needs surgery. Also, shifting the blame on the professors who were doing their job of reporting copying during an exam and making it about caste discrimination is a sad outcome,” she wrote on X.