'Reforms, Not Retaliation': Amid Faculty March Backing Prof Doolla, IIT-B Student Body Draws Line Between Institutional Reform and Presuming Guilt

Mumbai- Student representatives at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) issued an official statement on Monday addressing the fallout from the death of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode, even as the campus remains divided over allegations against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, the institute's suspended Dean of Administrative Affairs.

Wakode, a student of the Energy Science and Engineering department who hailed from Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, was found dead in his hostel room on Friday evening. According to the institute's own account, the matter began when he was reported for alleged unauthorised use of a phone during a mid-semester examination on September 18, with the institute stating that the question paper had reportedly been uploaded to ChatGPT.

Wakode was said to have been counselled by his instructor and head of department before returning to his hostel room, where he was later found dead. His family has since filed an FIR naming Professor Doolla, an examination invigilator, alleging caste-based harassment and casteist slurs over a period of three months.

The case has been registered under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (abetment of suicide) and under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. IIT Bombay has rejected the caste-related allegations, and the case is now being investigated by the Mumbai Crime Branch. The institute has since apologised for and withdrawn parts of its earlier public account of the events preceding Wakode's death, saying it was "inappropriate" to have characterised details that remain under investigation.

Student Representatives: "We Do Not Condone Academic Misconduct"

In their statement, IIT Bombay's student representatives were emphatic that they did not "stand for or condone cheating or any form of academic misconduct," while describing Wakode's death as "a deeply tragic event that has compelled us to reflect on the systems and processes within our Institute." They clarified that the student protests that followed were not an attempt to justify academic misconduct but "a collective effort to raise concerns about systemic issues" and to push for institutional reforms so that "no student has to face circumstances of this nature again."

The representatives said that over the past several days, students had compiled a comprehensive set of demands, which were formally presented to and signed by the Director, who has agreed to implement them within specified timelines. They also welcomed an open house held with the Director and members of the institute administration, at which student concerns and questions were addressed directly, praising his "proactive approach" toward identifying and resolving the institutional issues that had surfaced.

On the question of Professor Doolla, the students sought to clarify their position, stating they had never presumed his guilt or sought to prejudge the ongoing investigation. "We stand with Professor Doolla as a member of our faculty community," the statement said, adding that their demand was only that he be relieved of his administrative duties as Dean during the pendency of the investigation, a precautionary step intended to keep the inquiry independent and free from influence, with any findings and action to follow the established investigative process.

The statement further asserted that the concerns arising from the tragedy "must remain student-led and addressed within the Institute," cautioning against the episode becoming "a platform for external political interests, organisations, or narratives" to shape the student body's concerns. It closed with a call for accountability, transparency and institutional reform, and the lines: "IIT Bombay students are strong. IIT Bombay students are united. Student concerns must remain with the students."

Faculty Forum Holds Silent March in Support of Doolla

The statement comes hours after the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum organised a silent march in support of Professor Doolla. The forum has maintained that Doolla was following the Senate-approved examination procedure when he reported Wakode for alleged phone use during the exam, and has publicly backed him even as the police investigation and FIR proceed. In a statement, the forum said it stood in "solidarity" with its colleague, noting that he had been acting in line with the institute's Senate-approved academic policies, while also extending condolences to Wakode's family.

Some sections of the student body have echoed this position as well. A post from an IIT-B students' handle said they "stand with Prof. Doolla and reject the false allegations against him," and expressed concern that his resignation or suspension could be read by the media as confirmation of the casteist-remarks allegations.

Despite this backing, IIT Bombay suspended Professor Doolla from his position as Dean of Administrative Affairs with immediate effect, as the investigation continues. Director Shirish B. Kedare informed students by email that further action would depend on the outcome of the inquiry. The Mumbai Crime Branch investigation, along with the SC/ST Act allegations, remains ongoing.