IIT Bombay Professor Booked for Abetment to Suicide as Student’s Family Alleges Caste Harassment
Mumbai Police have registered a case naming IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla after second-year student Sahil Wakode was found dead in his hostel room. His parents have alleged caste-based harassment, while IIT Bombay has denied caste discrimination and said no disciplinary action had been i
a campus investigation and student welfare concerns at IIT Bombay
Table of Contents (15 sections)
Mumbai Police have registered an abetment-to-suicide case against an IIT Bombay professor following the death of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode, whose parents have alleged that he was subjected to caste-based harassment at the institute.
The First Information Report names Professor Suryanarayana Doolla of IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering and refers to other officials, according to reports citing police and the FIR. Police have also invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act following allegations made by Wakode’s family.
The case has since been transferred from Powai Police to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch for further investigation.
The allegations against Doolla and other officials are under investigation. Registration of an FIR does not establish guilt, and no court has reached a finding on the allegations.
Key Takeaways
IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode was found dead in his hostel room on September 18, 2026.
An FIR names Professor Suryanarayana Doolla of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering and refers to other officials.
Police have invoked Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to abetment of suicide, along with provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Recommended Reading
Related Stories & In-Depth Guides
Curated editorial perspectives matching this topic.
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has taken over the investigation into the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode after his family alleged caste-based harassment and demanded action against those they hold responsible. An IIT Bombay faculty member has been booked for alleged abetment to suicide, whi
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, his first visit to India in nearly seven years, with bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled for Saturday evening.
Wakode’s parents have alleged that he faced caste-based harassment. Those allegations remain under investigation and have not been established by a court.
IIT Bombay has denied caste discrimination and said Wakode had not filed such a complaint with the institute or its SC/ST Cell.
Students held protests on campus demanding an inquiry and greater accountability. The investigation has been transferred to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch.
What Happened at IIT Bombay
Wakode was a second-year BTech student in IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering. He was found dead in his hostel room on the Powai campus on Friday, September 18.
Reports differ on Wakode’s age, with some publications describing him as 20 and others as 22. Because of that discrepancy, his age should not be treated as settled until confirmed through an authoritative record.
Earlier that day, Wakode had been found using a mobile phone during an examination.
IIT Bombay said he had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT while seeking answers. According to the institute, the matter was discussed with him by the instructor and the head of department.
The institute maintains that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him and that he was counselled and assured the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.
Students who protested after his death have disputed parts of that account.
Some protesters alleged that Wakode had been warned about possible suspension or other serious disciplinary consequences following the examination incident. Those claims have not been independently established and are now among the circumstances being examined by investigators.
Professor Suryanarayana Doolla Named in FIR
The professor identified in the FIR is Suryanarayana Doolla, a faculty member in IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering.
IIT Bombay’s official faculty pages list Doolla as a professor in the department, with research interests that include smart grids, microgrids and power systems.
According to The Times of India, Doolla was the invigilator during the examination in which Wakode was found using a mobile phone. The report also identifies him as a former Dean of Student Affairs.
The FIR also refers to other senior or concerned officials, while reports differ on how many individuals are formally identified by name.
NDTV reported that two other accused were left unidentified in the FIR.
Police have not announced any finding of criminal responsibility.
What Wakode’s Parents Have Alleged
Wakode’s parents have accused people at the institute of subjecting their son to caste-based discrimination and harassment.
His father alleged that Wakode had faced caste-related abuse and pressure before his death. The family's complaint led police to add provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to the case.
These are allegations contained in the family’s account and police complaint. They have not been proven in court.
The family also sought stronger police action and initially refused to take Wakode’s body following the post-mortem examination while demanding action against those they held responsible. The family later accepted the body after authorities agreed to transfer the investigation to the Crime Branch.
Mumbai Police officials have said the case will be investigated from all angles.
IIT Bombay Denies Caste Discrimination Allegation
IIT Bombay has rejected the allegation that Wakode had been subjected to caste-based discrimination.
The institute has said that no complaint alleging such discrimination had been submitted by Wakode either to the administration or to its SC/ST Cell.
IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare has also denied that caste discrimination played a role in the case.
According to a report citing Kedare, he said there was no caste-based discrimination in the institute’s functioning or in the approach of its faculty and administration, including in Wakode’s case.
The institute has said it will cooperate fully with the police investigation and has urged people to avoid speculation while the case is being examined.
That institutional denial and the allegations made by Wakode’s family form competing accounts that investigators will now have to examine through statements, records and other evidence.
Exam Incident Becomes Part of Investigation
One of the central issues is what occurred after Wakode was found using his phone during the examination.
IIT Bombay’s position is that no formal disciplinary proceeding had been initiated and that Wakode was reassured that the matter would not damage his academic career.
Students who spoke after his death, however, alleged that he had been told he could face suspension or debarment.
Those accounts have not yet been independently established.
The distinction is significant because investigators will need to determine precisely what was communicated to Wakode, by whom and under what circumstances.
Reports also say no suicide note was recovered.
Without such direct evidence, it would be inappropriate to assign a single cause to his death while the police investigation remains underway.
Student Protests Erupt on IIT Bombay Campus
Wakode’s death triggered protests involving hundreds of students at the Powai campus.
The Indian Express reported that more than 400 students gathered as anger and concern spread through the campus. Students sought answers from the administration and raised wider concerns over disciplinary procedures, mental-health support and student representation.
IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare met protesting students.
The institute also postponed scheduled mid-semester examinations following the death and subsequent demonstrations.
Some protesters demanded Kedare’s resignation and called for greater transparency in the investigation.
The protests went beyond the immediate examination incident, with students raising broader questions about how academic pressure, disciplinary matters and complaints of discrimination are handled on campus.
Crime Branch Takes Over Investigation
The investigation was initially handled by Powai Police.
Following the family’s complaint and demands for a wider inquiry, the case was transferred to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch on Saturday. An Assistant Commissioner of Police-rank officer is expected to oversee the investigation, according to reports.
Police have invoked Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which concerns abetment of suicide, as well as relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
An FIR begins a criminal investigation. It is not a finding that the allegations are true.
Investigators will have to examine witness statements, the circumstances surrounding the examination, communications involving Wakode, the family's allegations and any available institutional records.
Several important points in the case remain contested.
IIT Bombay says Wakode was counselled rather than punished and was specifically reassured about his academic future.
Some students say he had been threatened with serious disciplinary consequences.
His parents allege a longer history of caste-based harassment.
The institute denies that allegation and says Wakode had not previously filed a caste-discrimination complaint with the administration or SC/ST Cell.
Police must now determine what evidence supports each account.
Until that process advances, none of the allegations should be reported as an established explanation for Wakode’s death.
Case Renews Questions Around Student Welfare
The death has also renewed discussion around student welfare at one of India’s leading engineering institutes.
The Times of India reported that Wakode’s death was the third suicide reported at IIT Bombay during 2026.
That context has added urgency to students’ demands for stronger support systems and clearer procedures surrounding academic misconduct and disciplinary action.
However, broader concerns about campus conditions should remain separate from determining criminal liability in Wakode’s individual case.
Whether any person legally abetted his death is a question for the police investigation and, if charges are pursued, the judicial process.
What Happens Next
The Mumbai Crime Branch will now continue the investigation.
Investigators are expected to examine the family's allegations of caste harassment, statements from students and faculty members, the events surrounding the examination and what discussions took place with Wakode before he returned to his hostel.
The role of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and any other official named or referred to in the complaint will also be scrutinised.
IIT Bombay has said it will cooperate with authorities.
No conviction or judicial finding has been made against Doolla or any other institute official.
The central questions — whether Wakode was subjected to caste-based harassment, whether he was threatened with disciplinary punishment, and whether any conduct legally amounted to abetment of suicide — remain matters for investigation.
Bottom Line
Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay, was found dead in his hostel room on September 18 after an examination-related incident earlier in the day.
Following allegations by his parents, Mumbai Police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’s abetment-of-suicide provision and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Professor Suryanarayana Doolla has been named in the FIR, along with references to other officials.
Wakode’s family alleges caste-based harassment. IIT Bombay denies caste discrimination and says no disciplinary action had been initiated against him following the examination incident.
Students have protested on campus demanding transparency and accountability, while the investigation has now moved to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch.
The allegations remain unproven, and determining what happened is now the responsibility of investigators and, if the case proceeds, the courts.
Key Takeaway
IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode found dead in hostel room.
Professor named in abetment-to-suicide FIR; family alleges caste harassment.
Institute denies discrimination and says no disciplinary action was initiated.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or severe emotional distress in India, Tele-MANAS can be reached at 14416 or 1-800-891-4416.
The Rajatheertha Team publishes news, explainers, guides and updates across India and the world. Our coverage follows Rajatheertha's editorial, verification and corrections standards.
The Election Commission’s interim freeze on the Trinamool Congress name and ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol has pushed rival factions to temporary identities. Mamata Banerjee has challenged the order in the Supreme Court, while the October 6 Nandigram bypoll has been further complicated by the withdrawal
India and Pakistan have summoned each other's diplomats after BSF personnel killed two Pakistani nationals along the Punjab border on October 2. New Delhi says they were infiltrators posing a security threat, while Islamabad says they were unarmed civilians.
The INDIA bloc has announced nationwide “Save Democracy” marches from Oct. 2–8 over the Election Commission and SIR controversy, with MPs planning an Oct. 6 march to the EC. The BJP has rejected the allegations as political frustration after electoral defeats.
Neither the Mamata Banerjee group nor the rival faction formally represented before the Election Commission by Arup Roy can use the All India Trinamool Congress name or its reserved symbol in the October 6 bypolls. The order is temporary while the ECI decides the larger party-control dispute under P
New Delhi says its oil sourcing will continue to be guided by energy security, market conditions and diversified supplies after the US Congress cleared legislation allowing President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian energy. The tariffs are not automatic, and th
India and China held their first senior commander-level flag talks in the Arunachal sector ahead of the BRICS Summit, as Xi Jinping’s expected India visit draws attention.
0 Comments