Suryanarayana Doolla, a professor at IIT Bombay, has been placed on leave amid an ongoing investigation related to the alleged suicide of student Sahil Wakode. The decision to place Doolla on leave was confirmed by sources on Wednesday. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death is still in progress, and further details have yet to be released.
The incident occurred hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination. Initial reports suggested that Wakode had used his mobile phone to upload the examination question paper to an artificial intelligence platform. However, the institute later withdrew from providing a detailed characterisation of the incident, stating that the matter was under investigation.
Wakode, a second-year B.Tech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging in his hostel room on the Powai campus on the evening of September 18.
These claims form part of the ongoing investigation and have not been independently verified. The student’s parents have demanded Doolla’s immediate arrest in connection with their son’s death.
She claimed that Wakode specifically named Professor Doolla and said the professor had made remarks about caste differences, according to reports. She further stated that her son told the family this alleged behaviour had continued for about three months.
Doolla had earlier been removed from his role as Dean of Students’ Welfare at IIT Bombay.
A case has been registered against Doolla on charges including abetment to suicide and caste-based discrimination following Wakode’s death. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Crime Branch is expected to question Doolla as part of its investigation into Wakode’s death.
Officials said his statement has not yet been recorded, while investigators have already spoken to the student’s parents.
