The move came amid student protests and demands for action over the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death. IIT Bombay on Monday suspended Dean of Student Affairs Professor Suryanarayana Doolla with immediate effect following the death by suicide of 20-year-old BTech student Sahil Wakode.
The details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities. In view of the ongoing investigation, it was inappropriate to have set out or characterised details relating to the events preceding his demise before they had been duly established through the appropriate investigative process. Following his death, the student’s father lodged a formal police complaint, making serious allegations against the institute authorities.
“We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil.
Students and Wakode’s family had accused Doolla of harassment and abetment in connection with the student’s death. However, Doolla will continue to serve as a professor and head of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. Doolla was named as an accused in an FIR registered after the student’s parents alleged that he faced harassment and caste-based discrimination by campus authorities. The suspension came amid continued demands from protesting students for accountability over the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
The institute also apologised for statements made in an earlier communication regarding the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death.
“Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla, Dean of Student Affairs, has been suspended with immediate effect. Any further action will be taken following an investigation,” IIT Bombay Director Prof.
Shireesh Kedare said.
