IIT Bombay Places Professor Doolla on Leave as Probe Continues into Student’s Death

IIT Bombay has taken further steps in the wake of the death of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode. The institute has placed Professor Suryanarayana Doolla on leave and constituted a 10-member panel to examine the circumstances around the incident. Wakode, a student of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room on the Powai campus on September 18. According to earlier statements from the institute, he had been found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination earlier that day. The institute later withdrew parts of its initial communication, saying details should not have been characterised before a full investigation. Professor Doolla, who was serving as Dean of Administrative Affairs and had earlier held the role of Dean of Student Affairs, was the invigilator during the examination. The student’s family has alleged harassment and caste-based discrimination. Based on the family’s complaint, police registered a case that includes charges of abetment of suicide and provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The investigation has been transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch. On September 21, following campus protests, the institute removed Doolla from his dean’s post. He continues as a faculty member. The Faculty Forum of IIT Bombay has stated that he was temporarily relieved of administrative duties to allow an independent inquiry and that he remains a member of the faculty in good standing. The forum has also pointed to his teaching awards and earlier student welfare initiatives during his time as Dean of Student Affairs. The new 10-member panel, headed by Professor Ramesh Venkateswaran, Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Palakkad, includes student representatives. It has been asked to submit its report within a week. Crime Branch investigators have been examining CCTV footage, the student’s movements after the examination, and related digital material. Student protests after the incident led the director to sign an 18-point charter. The demands cover independent investigation, changes in disciplinary processes, stronger counselling services and greater student involvement in welfare matters. The episode has once again brought attention to the pressures that students in high-stakes environments face. For parents of current and prospective IIT students, it raises practical questions about how institutes respond when a student is struggling and how quickly support systems kick in. Teachers and administrators across technical campuses are watching the process closely, as it may influence how examination rules and grievance mechanisms are applied in future. Several present and former students have shared accounts of positive interactions with Professor Doolla, describing him as supportive in academic and personal difficulties. At the same time, the family’s allegations remain under active investigation and no conclusions have been drawn. IIT Bombay has stated that further action will depend on the findings of the internal panel and the police probe. Classes were not in session at the time the leave decision was taken. The institute continues to emphasise that the priority is a fair and thorough examination of the facts. For students preparing for entrance exams or already enrolled in competitive programmes, the developments underline the importance of accessible mental health resources and clear channels for raising concerns without fear. Parents and educators will be looking for concrete steps that strengthen these systems beyond any single case.