22 September,2026 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
Students and administration gather at the convocation hall on Monday for the way ahead. Pic/By Special Arrangement
The standoff at IIT Bombay eased on Monday after the institute removed Prof Suryanarayana Doolla from his deanship, apologised for its earlier communication on student Sahil Wakode's death and held an open town hall with protesting students.
Director Prof Shireesh Kedare addressed students on Monday evening and answered their questions. The developments came after three days of protests following Wakode's death on Friday.
"Ideally our lectures will now resume tomorrow [Tuesday], and the protests have eased," a campus resident told mid-day. Students reported that the officials responded positively to asks around student wellness.
Faculty members and some students demonstrated in support of Prof Doolla and attended the town hall with banners backing him. "The major argument was that anyone can threaten to file a complaint against a professor and they won't be able to do their job properly. Students cannot hold an institution ransom," said a campus resident. The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum said Doolla had only been relieved of his deanship and continued as faculty, adding that he had won two teaching awards based on student feedback.
"Contrary to several media reports, Prof Suryanarayana Doolla has not been suspended from his service, and continues to be a member of the faculty," it said. However, there was no consensus among faculty. Prof Suryakant Waghmore posted: "Faculty forum is not a legal body. They are building pressure on investigation committee. Not all faculty identify with this group."
Doolla removed as dean
IIT Bombay informed students on Monday morning that Prof Suryanarayana Doolla had been removed from his post as Dean of Administrative Affairs pending further investigation. Doolla continues as a professor at the institute. He had previously also served as Dean of Student Affairs. The move addressed one of the 18 demands raised.
IIT-Bombay apologises
The institute issued an apology on its official X account over its earlier communication about Wakode's death. "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," the institute said.
Town hall with students
Students and the administration met at the convocation hall on Monday evening for an open town hall. Director Shireesh Kedare answered questions from students as campus weighed next steps.
Wakode's father, Ravindra Wakode, approached the police, alleging harassment and caste-based discrimination and seeking action against those responsible for his son's death. An FIR was registered naming Prof Suryanarayana Doolla and others. It includes allegations of abetment to suicide and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case has since been transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch
Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student, was found dead in his hostel room on Friday, September 18. IIT Bombay's initial statement said Wakode had been found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination and had allegedly uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers. The institute said no disciplinary action had been initiated against him and that he was counselled. The institute has since apologised for characterising details surrounding the incident before they were established through an investigation.
