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IIT Bombay alumnus and author Sudheendra Kulkarni has appealed for an impartial investigation into the death of second-year BTech student Sahil Ravindra Wakode and called for the withdrawal of the case registered against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Kulkarni's remarks came amid an ongoing investigation into Wakode's death and protests at IIT Bombay. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has taken over the probe. Wakode's family has alleged caste-based harassment and sought a detailed investigation, while the institute has said the matter is under investigation.
Kulkarni Backs Prof Doolla
Kulkarni has urged IIT alumni and former faculty members to stand in solidarity with Doolla. He said that action against the professor should not be taken before the investigation establishes his guilt.
Doolla was the professor involved in the examination during which Wakode was allegedly found using a smartphone. IIT Bombay initially described the incident as academic misconduct but later apologised for its communication, saying it was inappropriate to characterise circumstances surrounding the death while the matter was still under investigation.
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SC/ST Act Case Under Investigation
Wakode's family has alleged caste-based discrimination and filed a complaint against Doolla. The case includes provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to abetment of suicide.
Kulkarni has questioned what he described as the use of the SC/ST Act before the facts of the case are established. He has called for the case under the Act to be withdrawn.
The allegations made by the family and Kulkarni's response are part of an ongoing dispute; the investigation has not yet established the allegations against any individual.
Crime Branch Examines CCTV Footage
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is examining CCTV footage from the examination hall, campus and hostel to reconstruct Wakode's movements on the day of his death.
Investigators are particularly examining the sequence of events after Wakode left the examination hall and before he returned to his hostel. The Crime Branch has clarified that the footage is being examined by investigators and has not been officially released.
Prof Doolla Relieved of Deanship
Amid protests following Wakode's death, IIT Bombay relieved Doolla of his administrative responsibilities as Dean of Administrative Affairs while the investigation continues. The institute clarified that the action concerns his deanship, while he continues as a faculty member.
Meanwhile, IIT Bombay's Faculty Forum has expressed support for Doolla and called for the investigation to be allowed to proceed without prejudging the outcome.
The Crime Branch investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding Wakode's death and examine the allegations raised by his family.
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