IIT Bombay suspends professor after student's suicide; debate over academic pressure and parental role emerges

IIT Bombay has suspended Professor Suryanarayana Doolla from his administrative position following the death of 20-year-old BTech student Sahil Wakode. Doolla was the invigilator when Wakode was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during an examination. He will continue as faculty. The institute has apologised for its earlier communication about circumstances surrounding Wakode's death, stating details should not have been characterised before investigation completion.

Wakode's parents have accused Doolla and other officials of caste discrimination and undue pressure. An FIR has been registered invoking abetment of suicide and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act provisions. The Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating. Students have submitted an 18-point charter of demands following campus protests.

The institute denies the allegations. The Faculty Forum stated Doolla was enforcing academic integrity policy when he detected the alleged malpractice. The incident has sparked debate on whether academic enforcement is being conflated with harassment and whether broader systemic pressures on students merit examination.