IIT Bombay Student Suicide: Who Is Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, Named in 18 Student Demands?
Students protesting the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode have included action against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla among their 18 demands.
Students at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have raised 18 demands following the death by suicide of second-year student Sahil Wakode. Among the key demands is action against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was the invigilator during the examination in which Wakode was allegedly found using ChatGPT to seek answers.
On September 20, IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh Kedare met the protesting students after a three-day sit-in near the institute’s main gate and signed an 18-point charter of demands. The charter includes a demand for action against Doolla, along with an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death.
The police have registered an abetment-of-suicide case and invoked provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act following a complaint by Wakode’s family. His family has alleged caste-based harassment, while IIT Bombay has rejected the allegations and said the matter is subject to investigation.
In a post on X, IIT Bombay today, September 21, said: “We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil.
The details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities. In view of the ongoing investigation, it was inappropriate to have set out or characterised details relating to the events preceding his demise before they had been duly established through the appropriate investigative process.”
What Are Students Demanding?
The 18-point charter goes beyond action against the professor. Students have sought an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death, with an interim report by September 30 and a final report by October 15. They have also demanded an open house involving the director, Dean of Student Affairs and other senior officials.
The students have sought an apology over what they described as the public “defamation” of Wakode. The charter also includes demands concerning mental-health support, faculty conduct, grievance redressal and greater student participation in institutional decision-making.
The document further states that if demands five to 14 are not implemented within a month, the Director, Dean AP and Dean SA should resign. Students have also sought monetary compensation for the families of four people who recently died at the institute.
(Official document regarding IIT Bombay students' demand, accessed by India Today Digital)
Who Is Professor Suryanarayana Doolla?
Professor Suryanarayana Doolla is a faculty member in IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering. His academic work focuses on electrical power systems and energy technologies, with research interests including smart grids, microgrids, converter control, renewable-energy integration, power-system operation and energy efficiency.
Doolla completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from Nagarjuna University in 2000. He then earned an M.Tech in Energy Systems Engineering from IIT Bombay in 2002 and a PhD in Power Systems from IIT Delhi in 2007, according to his official IIT Bombay profile.
Before joining IIT Bombay, Doolla worked with Power Research and Development Consultants in Bengaluru and Machine 2 Machine in Hyderabad. At IIT Bombay, his work has included teaching, research and administrative responsibilities.
His research portfolio includes work related to smart grids, microgrids and the integration of distributed energy resources. He is also listed by IIT Bombay’s National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education as a principal investigator.
Why Is Doolla Part Of The Current Controversy?
Doolla was the course instructor and examination invigilator during the exam involving Wakode. According to reports, he was involved in reporting the alleged examination malpractice to the institute authorities. The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has defended his conduct, saying he was carrying out his invigilation responsibilities according to the institute’s prescribed procedures.
Wakode’s family, however, has alleged that the student faced caste-based harassment. Doolla has been named in the FIR registered following the family’s complaint, and the case remains under investigation. The allegations have not been established by the investigation at this stage.
The student protests and the police investigation are proceeding separately. While students have sought institutional action and an independent inquiry, the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death remain subject to the ongoing investigation.
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Sahil Behl is an education journalist at Jagran with over a year of experience in journalism. Prior to joining Jagran, he worked as a Sub-Editor in NDTV’s Education department, where he was responsible for writing and editing education-related content as well as managing the department’s social media presence. At Jagran, he covers a wide range of education topics, including board examinations, school updates, admissions, and job notifications, while leveraging his editorial expertise and strong understanding of digital content strategy. Sahil holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and has also completed an eight-month certification program in Data Science. Passionate about emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, he closely tracks their growing role in journalism and explores how they are transforming shaping the future of the media industry.
