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IIT Bombay Student Sahil Wakode Death Sparks Protests, Professor Removed as Dean

IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode's death has triggered campus protests, an FIR and an investigation, while Professor Suryanarayana Doolla was removed as dean.

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Epic Daily News

9/29/20262 min read

IIT Bombay campus during student protests following a student's death

IIT Bombay Student Sahil Wakode Death Sparks Protests, Professor Removed as Dean

Mumbai: The death by suicide of 20-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode has triggered protests on the Powai campus, a police investigation and demands from students for changes in the institute's handling of student welfare and disciplinary proceedings. Wakode was a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering.

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Family Alleges Caste-Based Harassment

Wakode's parents have alleged that their son faced caste-based harassment and discrimination. Based on the family's complaint, police registered an FIR naming Professor Doolla and invoked provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case was subsequently transferred to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch.

IIT Bombay has denied that Wakode had previously submitted a complaint about caste discrimination to its SC-ST cell or administration.

Exam Incident Before Student's Death

According to reports, Wakode was found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination on September 18. Reports said the phone was allegedly used to upload the examination question paper to an AI platform and seek answers. Professor Suryanarayana Doolla was the invigilator during the examination. Wakode died later that day.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation, and the connection between the examination incident and his death has not been established as a legal finding.

Students Protest on Campus

Students staged protests and submitted an 18-point list of demands to the institute. The demands included calls for an independent investigation, action concerning the professor and stronger measures for student support.

On September 21, IIT Bombay announced that Professor Doolla had been removed from his position as Dean of Administrative Affairs to facilitate an independent investigation. The faculty forum later clarified that he continues as a faculty member and said it supported him while calling for a fair investigation.

IIT Bombay Apologises for Earlier Statement

The institute also apologised for aspects of an earlier communication concerning the circumstances of Wakode's death, saying that details remained under investigation. It also clarified that reports claiming Director Shireesh Kedare had resigned were false.

The investigation and campus discussions are continuing, with attention focused on the circumstances surrounding Wakode's death, the allegations made by his family and broader questions about student support at IIT Bombay.