IIT Bombay has sent Professor Suryanarayana Doolla on leave and formed a 10-member panel to investigate the death of 22-year-old BTech student Sahil Wakode.
The panel, headed by IIT Palakkad Board of Governors Chairman Professor Ramesh Venkateswaran, will submit its report within a week.
The Mumbai Crime Branch has summoned Doolla for questioning on Wednesday. A case alleging abetment and caste discrimination has been registered against him following a complaint by Sahil’s family.
Doolla was also removed as Dean of Administrative Affairs on Monday after student protests.
Sahil, a second-year student of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging in his hostel room on September 18, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during an examination.
CCTV footage is being examined to trace his movements from the examination hall to his hostel.
Sahil’s mother, Sonali Wakode, alleged that her son had told the family he was being tortured, abused and humiliated over his caste.
She also disputed the institute’s initial claim that he cheated using ChatGPT, saying evidence should be provided.
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has defended Doolla, saying he was performing his invigilation duties.
We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil.
The details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities. In view of…
— IIT Bombay (@iitbombay) September 21, 2026
Forum president Rajkumar Pant said Sahil had not recently approached the institute’s SC/ST cell and there was no confirmed evidence of caste-related remarks by Doolla.
IIT Bombay has apologised for its earlier statements about the examination incident, saying the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death remain under investigation.
