IIT student suicide: FIR filed against professor over 'casteist remarks'; VBA chief Ambedkar asks for accountability

Mumbai: In a first of sorts, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) in Powai has been booked for abetment to suicide following allegations of “casteist remarks” made by the parents of Sahil Wakode, a second-year student who died after he was found hanging in his hostel room, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during an examination.

Sahil (22), who hailed from Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, was a second-year BTech student in the Energy Science and Engineering department.

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The parents named Prof Suryanarayana Doolla, who currently teaches and directs research in power electronics and power systems as a faculty member in the FIR.

The Powai police station has registered an FIR based on the complaint of parents — Ravindra Wakode and Sonali Wakode, who had alleged casteism, mental and physical harassment.

The Crime Branch-CID has joined the investigation.

The case was booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

They also demanded the immediate removal of IIT-Bombay’s Director Shireesh B Kedare.

“There should be regular monitoring of the investigations by victim’s father and five to seven representatives with the overall case being probed under the supervision by the officer of rank of Joint Commissioner of Police,” said Advocate Nikhil Kamble, who is representing the family.

"I appeal for a thorough investigation into those who pushed him toward suicide through torture and caste discrimination. I urge the government to ensure justice for my child by terminating them from service,” said Ravindra Wakode.

Meanwhile, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi founder-president and former MP Prakash Ambedkar expressed serious concern about the incident. “Another Dalit student has lost their life. A Dalit student committed suicide after facing three months of continuous caste-based abuse, threats and harassment at the hands of IIT Bombay faculty. How many more lives will be lost before caste-discrimination in educational institutions is taken seriously?,” he asked.

Another Dalit student has lost their life.

A Dalit student committed suicide after facing three months of continuous caste-based abuse, threats and harassment at the hands of IIT Bombay faculty.

How many more lives will be lost before caste-discrimination in educational… https://t.co/FqkqtJho36

— Prakash Ambedkar (@Prksh_Ambedkar) September 20, 2026

The IIT-Bombay’s management maintained that during an examination, the student was found using a mobile phone in the exam hall. “He had uploaded the examination question paper on ChatGPT to seek answers. No disciplinary action was initiated against the student. The matter was also discussed with the student by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career. The student subsequently returned to his hostel room. Later in the evening, he was found dead in his room,” it said.

“In this case, an FIR has been registered under sections related to abetment of suicide. Primarily, an investigation is currently underway against all those individuals whose names were mentioned by the deceased student's father in the FIR,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Datta Nalawade said.

In a related development, the Dailt Voice demanded death penalty for the professor. “We demand death penalty for the professor who used casteism against the Dalit student and forced him to commit suicide,” it said and demanded that the government should immediately implement the new UGC regulations, otherwise Dalit students will continue to die like this. “The incident took place at IIT Bombay. The 'Dronacharya' figure is still active, which is why UGC regulations must be implemented immediately,” it added.

Who is Prof Doolla?

Prof Suryanarayana Doolla is currently Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, where he teaches and directs research in power electronics and power systems as a faculty member of the Energy Science and Engineering Department.

Prof Doolla received the B.Tech. degree in electrical engineering from the Nagarjuna University in 2000, M.Tech in Energy Systems Engineering from IIT Bombay, and Ph.D. degrees in Power Systems from IIT Delhi, India in 2002 and 2007, respectively.

He was with Power Research and Development Consultants (2009), Bangalore and Machine 2 Machine (2006-2008), Hyderabad before joining IIT Bombay. He is a recipient of several awards and honours including Prof. S. P. Sukhatme Excellence in Teaching Award, September 2021, IIT Bombay, Best Paper Award, IEEE TPEC 2021, USA, Bhaskara Advanced Solar Energy Fellowship, 2017.

Protests rock IIT-Bombay after student dies by suicide over allegation of 'using ChatGPT' in exam

Excellence in Teaching Award, 2017, DESE, IIT Bombay, Visiting Faculty, 2016, Linnaeus-Palme International Exchange Program and Young Faculty Award, 2009, IIT Bombay.

His research interests include smartgrids, microgrids, converter topologies and control, communication protocol for power systems, grid integration of distributed energy resources, power systems operation and control and energy efficiency.