IIT-Bombay student death case: Dean Professor removed
IIT-Bombay has removed Professor Suryanarayana Doolla from his post as Dean following the death of a student, Sahil Ravindra Wakode. The student's family has alleged institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination, leading to an ongoing police investigation.
Why it matters
This case underscores critical issues regarding student mental health, institutional accountability, and the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws within elite academic environments.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay on Monday (September 21, 2026) said Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla has been removed from the Dean's post with immediate effect, d ays after a student's death.
The institute's Director, Prof. Shireesh Kedare, in an official mail, said that Prof. Doolla, presently serving as Dean (Administrative Affairs), has been removed from the post, as per officials.
"Any further action will be taken after investigation," the Director added.
Earlier, Prof Doolla served as Dean (Student Affairs).
Sahil Ravindra Wakode (22), a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hotel room on the IIT-Bombay's Powai campus on Friday (September 18, 2026) evening. In an initial statement, IIT-Bombay alleged that he was caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in