Tamil Nadu BJP leader opposes SC/ST Act charges against IIT Bombay professor in student death case

Tamil Nadu BJP leader Ananthan Ayyasamy has opposed charges against IIT Bombay Professor Suryanarayana Doolla under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The professor had caught student Sahil Wakode using a mobile phone and AI chatbot during an exam, after which the student died by suicide.

In a social media post on September 20, Ayyasamy, who is TenSemi CEO and BJP Tenkasi district president, stated he strongly opposes the charges. Belonging to the Devendra Kula Vellalar (DKV) community, classified as SC, Ayyasamy highlighted his career trajectory from rural poverty to positions at NIT Tiruchirappalli, C-DOT, and Intel in India and the US.

Ayyasamy noted his community has taken a voluntary stand against filing cases under the SC/ST Act, citing concerns about weaponisation of the law. The case has divided public opinion, with some seeing it as caste discrimination and others backing the professor.