IIT Bombay professor denies caste-based harassment claims in student death case following an eight-hour interrogation by Mumbai Crime Branch officers. The inquiry into the death of second-year engineering student Sahil Wakode proceeded after Professor Suryanarayana Doolla rejected accusations of discriminatory behavior during a recorded statement.
Wakode was discovered dead in his hostel room on September 18, 2026, shortly after allegedly being caught using a mobile device during a mid-semester examination. His family accused Doolla of making derogatory caste-related comments and subjecting Sahil to repeated harassment, claims the professor categorically denied during questioning. Doolla insisted he had adhered to the institute’s examination protocols and had not made any discriminatory remarks.
Police conducted the interrogation at IIT Bombay’s Powai campus, detaining Doolla for nearly eight to ten hours. Before his statement, investigators had already spoken with approximately 40 individuals, including Sahil’s parents, fellow students, staff members, and hostel employees. The probe includes forensic examination of Sahil’s two mobile phones, laptop, and tablet, along with digital evidence recovery.
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Investigators confirmed Doolla was present in the examination hall when Sahil was allegedly apprehended with a prohibited device. Later that evening, Sahil was found deceased in his room. The family’s allegations prompted IIT Bombay to suspend Doolla pending the outcome of the investigation, though he continues to assert his actions were in compliance with institutional policies.
The Mumbai Crime Branch is now analyzing witness testimonies, CCTV recordings, and digital records to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to Sahil’s death. A first information report (FIR) was filed against Doolla after Sahil’s father, Ravindra Wakode, submitted a complaint to Powai police station. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes also conducted an on-campus inspection on September 24, ordering the preservation of all relevant evidence.
Sahil’s parents have intensified their demands by initiating a hunger strike, calling for Doolla’s arrest as well as that of IIT Bombay director Shireesh Kedare. Student protesters on campus have joined the movement, amplifying calls for administrative accountability. The institute has since established a 10-member review committee to oversee the case, though no arrests have been made and the investigation remains active.
