IIT Bombay Professor Waghmore challenges Faculty Forum's support for accused professor in Wakode suicide case

Following the suicide of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, an FIR was registered under SC/ST Act provisions against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who had caught Wakode cheating during an exam on September 18. The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum issued a statement supporting Doolla on September 21.

Sociology Professor Suryakant Waghmore has since challenged the Forum's intervention in an email to its president Rajkumar Pant. Waghmore questioned the Forum's legal standing and accused it of bias, stating the Forum should not "pick sides in a biased way" while investigations continue. He warned of potential legal action if further emails were sent regarding the matter.

Waghmore contended the Forum was shielding Doolla while showing "total lack of sympathy" for the deceased student and those grieving, amid ongoing allegations of caste discrimination against the professor.