IIT Bombay Professor Suryanarayana Doolla Asked to Go on Leave Amid Probe Into Student Sahil Wakode’s Death

IIT Bombay has asked Professor Suryanarayana Doolla to proceed on leave amid an investigation into the death by suicide of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode. The institute's Board of Governors has also constituted a 10-member high-level committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the student's death, with the panel directed to submit its report within a week. The development comes as the Mumbai Crime Branch investigates the case and prepares to question Doolla. The professor has been named in an FIR following a complaint by Wakode's family alleging harassment and caste-based discrimination. The allegations have not been established and remain under investigation.

10-Member Panel to Probe Sahil Wakode's Death

The committee is headed by Professor Ramesh Venkateswaran, chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Palakkad. Its members include faculty representatives, an administrator, students and a psychiatrist. The panel has been given one week to submit its findings on the circumstances surrounding Wakode's death. The institute's decision follows protests on the IIT Bombay campus and demands from students for an independent investigation into the case. IIT Bombay Student Suicide: CCTV Shows Sahil Wakode Being Asked To Leave Exam Hall.

Crime Branch Examines Exam Hall Incident

The Mumbai Crime Branch is separately reconstructing the events of September 18, when Wakode died. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the examination hall, campus and hostel. According to reports, the footage shows Wakode being questioned by Doolla during an examination before leaving the examination hall between around 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm. He was later seen returning to his hostel room at about 1:25 pm. Police are also expected to question students who were present during the examination to establish what happened between Wakode and the professor.

FIR Includes Abetment and SC/ST Act Provisions

The FIR was registered after Wakode's family approached the police. It includes allegations of abetment to suicide and provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Wakode's parents have alleged that their son faced caste-based harassment and pressure. They have demanded the arrest of Professor Doolla and IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare. The allegations are part of the ongoing investigation and have not been established as facts. IIT Bombay's SC/ST cell has said that it did not receive a complaint from Wakode before his death.

IIT Bombay Had Earlier Removed Doolla From Dean's Role

Before the latest decision, IIT Bombay had suspended Doolla's deanship with immediate effect. He was earlier Dean of Administrative Affairs and had been the invigilator during the examination involving Wakode. The institute subsequently asked him to go on leave while the investigation proceeds. IIT Bombay had also apologised for an earlier communication concerning the circumstances preceding Wakode's death, saying that details should not have been characterised before being established through an appropriate investigation.

Faculty Forums Back Prof Doolla

Meanwhile, faculty forums at IIT Kanpur and IIT Indore have expressed support for Doolla. Faculty groups have raised concerns about personal vilification of teachers while also calling for due process in the matter. The competing claims underline that the circumstances leading to Wakode's death are still being examined by both the institute's committee and the Mumbai Crime Branch. IIT Bombay Student Death: Family Demands Arrests Amid Caste Allegations; Faculty Bodies Rally Behind Professor Doolla.

Sahil Wakode Suicide Case: What Happens Next?

The immediate focus is on the Crime Branch's questioning of Doolla, examination of CCTV footage and statements from students and other people connected with the September 18 incident. The 10-member IIT Bombay committee is also expected to submit its report within a week. The findings of these investigations will determine what happened before Wakode's death and whether the allegations made by his family are substantiated.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 23, 2026 09:48 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).