'I Have Not Said A Word Against Dalits': Cong’s Shama Mohamed Responds To Backlash Over IIT Bombay Student Suicide Remarks

Mumbai: Congress national spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed has responded to the backlash over her remarks supporting IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla following the suicide of student Sahil Wakode. Defending her comments, Mohamed said she had not made any statement against Dalits and had only pointed out that an invigilator has the right to admonish a student caught cheating during an examination.

“I have not said a word against Dalits. I have only said that when any child is caught cheating, it is the right of the invigilator to admonish him. We can’t allow students to copy in an exam!” Mohamed said in a post on X.

Her clarification came after her earlier remarks, in which she had said, “If a student is caught cheating, it is normal to admonish him and ask him to leave the room.” She had also said that if a student faced caste-based harassment, they should approach the SC/ST department.

'Please Don’t Abuse People Who Stand With Dalits'

Responding to criticism, Mohamed reiterated that her comments were about examination protocols and not directed against the Dalit community.

“I have also written that if casteist slurs are being used, the student must complain to SC/ST departments,” she said.

Urging critics to focus on the larger issue, Mohamed added, “Please don’t abuse people who stand with Dalits, instead tackle the real issue.”

Her latest remarks seek to draw a distinction between allegations of caste-based harassment and the reported examination incident involving Wakode.

Earlier Backed IIT Bombay Professor

In her earlier post, Mohamed had said she stood with Professor Doolla following Wakode’s death. She argued that reprimanding a student caught cheating was a normal disciplinary response and said teachers and parents had similarly admonished students of her generation for wrongdoing.

“When we were kids, we were admonished by teachers, parents for our wrongdoings but our generation was mentally strong,” she had said.

At the same time, Mohamed had called for colleges to have mental health therapists to support students’ wellbeing.

What Happened During The IIT Bombay Exam?

The controversy centres on Wakode, an IIT Bombay student who died by suicide on September 18, 2026, hours after a mid-semester examination.

According to the information available, Professor Doolla had reported Wakode for allegedly using a mobile phone during the examination and uploading exam questions to an AI tool.

Wakode’s family subsequently alleged that he had faced caste-based harassment and filed a police complaint invoking provisions of the SC/ST Act and abetment to suicide against the professor.

IIT Bombay has denied allegations of caste discrimination and said no disciplinary action was taken against the student.

Faculty Forum Backs Professor

The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has also backed Doolla, supporting his handling of the examination incident and his adherence to academic protocols.

The controversy has unfolded amid student protests and questions surrounding the circumstances of Wakode’s death.

Mohamed’s latest statement comes as she faces criticism over her earlier remarks, with the Congress leader maintaining that her comments were intended to defend the invigilator’s authority to prevent cheating and not to dismiss or oppose allegations of caste-based harassment.

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Published on: Monday, September 21, 2026, 11:58 AM IST