Mumbai: IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla has been sent on a week-long leave amid continuing protests over the death of student Sahil Wakode. Faculty members maintained that Doolla has not been suspended from his teaching position. The institute had earlier removed him from his post as Dean of Administrative Affairs. The faculty members distinguish that removal from the students’ demand for his suspension as a faculty member.
The development comes as the Mumbai Crime Branch continues its investigation and has summoned Doolla for questioning on Wednesday. The professor is expected to appear before the investigating agency as it examines the events leading up to Wakode's death.
Students continued their protest outside the campus, where they have set up a small library of books on caste for participants to read. The library has become part of the protest as students press the institute for accountability following Wakode’s death.
Meanwhile, IIT Bombay has released a timetable for the mid-semester examinations that were cancelled after the incident. The announcement signals a resumption of academic activity even as the protest continues.
The institute has apologised for its earlier communication about the circumstances preceding Wakode’s death, saying those details should not have been characterised before the investigation established them. Students have sought answers about the institute’s response and the demands they submitted in the aftermath.
Sahil's Parents Demand Justice
The latest developments came a day after the Crime Branch recorded statements from Sahil's parents as part of its investigation. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Sahil's father, Ravindra Wakode, said the family had faith in the administration and the Constitution and expected justice for their son.
He demanded that the accused in the case be questioned and arrested. “The accused in the case should be questioned and arrested. Only after the arrest will everything come out,” Ravindra said.
He also rejected allegations that Sahil had cheated during the JEE Advanced examination, calling them an attempt to divert attention from the issues surrounding his son's death. Ravindra described Sahil as a bright student and pointed to his performance in the highly competitive entrance examination.
Sahil's mother, Sonali Wakode, said the family was struggling to cope with the loss and appealed for justice for her son. “I am a mother and a teacher. I have lost my child, and only a mother can understand how much pain I am going through,” she said.
Sahil Was Facing Torture, Casteist Slurs: Mother
Sonali also alleged that Sahil had told his family about facing torture and casteist slurs. She said the family had continued to reassure him that his future would be bright and expressed regret that they did not bring him home when he spoke about the difficulties he was facing.
Sahil, a second-year BTech student in IIT Bombay's Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging in his hostel room on the Powai campus on September 18 evening. His death came hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.
The case has since sparked allegations over the treatment of Sahil and the conduct of faculty members. These allegations have not been established and are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation. The Mumbai Crime Branch and IIT Bombay's internal panel are now examining statements and other available evidence to establish the sequence of events leading up to Sahil's death.
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