21 September,2026 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
The student protest on Saturday. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
As the police probe the allegations against the professor at IIT Bombay, the faculty at the institute has come out to express solidarity with Prof Suryanarayana Doola, who was reportedly named in the complaint filed by the aggrieved parents.
This comes after a second-year BTech Energy Science student was found dead in his hostel room after being allegedly caught cheating during the exam. The death led to student demonstrations across the campus, and the deceased's father has reportedly filed an FIR invoking the Atrocities Act and abetment. Doola, who was invigilating the exam, was named in the complaint. The student demonstrations around campus have also demanded a suspension of the professor.
Faculty Forum of IIT Bombay
âWe strongly express our solidarity with our colleague Prof Suryanarayana Doolla, who was discharging his duties in line with the institute's Senate-approved academic policies currently in force. Prof. Doolla, the course instructor, was invigilating in the mid-semester examination from 11 am to 1 pm on Friday,
September 18, 2026, when he observed that a student was indulging in academic malpractice, viz., unauthorised possession and use of a smartphone during the exam. As part of the institute-approved procedure, he reported the incident to institute authorities for further action in the matter.'
Expressing condolences for the deceased and his family, the faculty forum at the institute came out in support for Doolla amid the allegation row. The forum expressed distress at alleged attempts to tarnish the reputation of Prof Doolla.
In a previous statement, IIT Bombay clarified that no disciplinary action was initiated against the student and, after discussions, the student was assured that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.
