IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla at center of Sahil Wakode death and exam probe

Mumbai: IIT Bombay Professor of Sociology Suryakant Waghmore has publicly distanced himself from the institute’s Faculty Forum statement backing Professor Suryanarayana Doolla amid protests following the death of second-year student Sahil Wakode.Not me!! pic.twitter.com/347m1Vuf5E— Suryakant Waghmore (@Suryakant_Waghm) September 21, 2026Reacting to the Faculty Forum’s September 20 statement on X, Waghmore posted, “Not me!!”, indicating that he did not identify with the position taken by the faculty body.In a separate email addressed to Professor Rajkumar S. Pant, president of the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum, Waghmore questioned the forum’s status and objected to what he described as its intervention in the ongoing matter.Faculty forum is not a legal body.. they are building pressure on investigation committee. Not all faculty identify with this group..I am saying this on record, any media outlet can quote me. pic.twitter.com/Y5bG8RXTk4— Suryakant Waghmore (@Suryakant_Waghm) September 21, 2026“Last I heard, faculty forum is not a legal body. Please stop sending mass emails before you clarify, your legal status,” Waghmore wrote in the email.He further said that a faculty member could be suspended while an investigation committee examines the matter, citing what he described as previous precedent. Waghmore also accused the Faculty Forum of taking sides and said its statement showed a lack of sympathy towards Wakode and those grieving his death.Waghmore warned that if he received further emails from the Faculty Forum on the issue, he would consider pursuing legal action against Pant.Waghmore says Faculty Forum is ‘Building Pressure’ on ProbeIn another post on X, Waghmore said the Faculty Forum was “not a legal body” and alleged that it was putting pressure on the investigation committee.He also clarified that not all IIT Bombay faculty members identify with the group and said he was making the statement on record for the media to quote.Someone pursue legal action against Prof. Pant who is not even an elected member of this body. There have been no elections which were due, and yet he’s making such absurd comments.. https://t.co/hmrN2D0LKC pic.twitter.com/VePfbvBafo— Suryakant Waghmore (@Suryakant_Waghm) September 21, 2026In another post, Waghmore wrote, “Someone pursue legal action against Prof. Pant who is not even an elected member of this body.” He further alleged that elections to the Faculty Forum were due but had not been held, questioning Pant’s authority to make the comments in the statement.Waghmore also warned in his email that he would consider pursuing legal action if he received further mass emails from the Faculty Forum on the matter.Says Faculty Forum Is “Building Pressure” On ProbeIn a separate post on X, Waghmore said the Faculty Forum was “building pressure on investigation committee” and reiterated that not all faculty members identify with the group. He added that he was making the statement on record and that media outlets could quote him.Faculty Forum backs Prof Suryanarayana DoollaThe comments came a day after the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum issued a statement expressing solidarity with Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was the course instructor and invigilator during the mid-semester examination on September 18.The forum said Doolla had been discharging his duties in accordance with the institute’s Senate-approved academic policies. It said he observed a student allegedly possessing and using a smartphone during the examination and reported the incident to institute authorities as per the approved procedure.The Faculty Forum also said it was distressed over what it described as the “tarnishing” of Doolla’s reputation.The statement was issued by Pant, president of the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum.The Faculty Forum’s account represents its position on Doolla’s actions. Separately, allegations concerning the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death remain under investigation by the appropriate authorities.

Students at IIT-Bombay are protesting and demanding action against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla. Professor Doolla was involved in reporting alleged examination malpractice by a student who later died. The student's family has alleged harassment and caste-based discrimination against the professor. IIT-Bombay has temporarily relieved Professor Doolla from his deanship while investigations continue. The institute has also apologized for earlier statements regarding the student's death.

Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, a faculty member in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering (DESE) at IIT Bombay, has come under scrutiny following the death of second-year student Sahil Wakode and the protests that followed on the institute campus.Doolla has been associated with IIT Bombay for more than 15 years and has held several academic and administrative positions at the institute. His academic work focuses on power systems, smart grids, microgrids, renewable-energy integration and energy efficiency. IIT Bombay's faculty profile lists his research interests as including smart grids, microgrids, converter topologies and control, communication protocols for power systems, distributed energy resources and power-system operation and control.He is currently listed by IIT Bombay as Dean (Administrative Affairs) and a professor in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering."इस इंस्टिट्यूट में जातिवाद होता है" यह बयान IIT Bombay की एक स्टूडेंट का है, यह डायरेक्टर के सामने बोल रही है, अब भी नहीं मानोगे मनु की औलादों,मनु की औलादों को लगता है, जातिवाद नामक कोई समस्या है ही नहीं, उनको लगता है मनु की व्यवस्था बेहतरीन थी, शूद्र को पढ़ने का अधिकार… pic.twitter.com/EVRhS0Qrwe— Ravi Parmar (@raviparmarIN) September 21, 2026Suryanarayana Doolla’s Academic BackgroundDoolla completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from Nagarjuna University in 2000. He then pursued an M.Tech in Energy Systems Engineering at IIT Bombay, completing the programme in 2002.He subsequently completed his PhD in Power Systems from IIT Delhi. IIT Bombay's official faculty profile records his doctoral qualification as a PhD in Power System from IIT Delhi, awarded in 2007.Before joining IIT Bombay, Doolla worked in the power and technology sectors. His professional experience included a stint with Power Research and Development Consultants Pvt Ltd in Bengaluru and work with Machine 2 Machine in Hyderabad.He also worked as a lecturer at CRR College of Engineering in Eluru earlier in his career.Research On Smart Grids And Power SystemsDoolla's research career has largely centred on modern power-system technologies.His areas of interest include:Smart gridsMicrogridsRenewable and distributed energy integrationConverter topologies and controlPower-system communication protocolsPower-system operation and controlEnergy efficiencyHis IIT Bombay profile lists research publications in these areas and also shows courses taught by him, including Distributed Generation and Microgrids, Basic Electrical Engineering and Energy Engineering.His Administrative Roles At IIT BombayDoolla's association with IIT Bombay has extended beyond teaching and research.He served as Dean of Student Affairs from March 2023 to July 2026, according to the professional profile information provided by Doolla. IIT Bombay's records also identify him as having served as Dean of Student Affairs.He subsequently took charge as Dean of Administrative Affairs. IIT Bombay's current institute-functionaries page lists him in the position, along with his official institute contact details.His administrative responsibilities have included working on matters related to student and institutional affairs. He has also been associated with the organisation of major entrance examinations conducted by IIT Bombay, including JEE Advanced, UCEED and CEED, according to information about his institutional responsibilities.Teaching And Research RecognitionsDoolla has received several recognitions during his academic career.These include the IIT Bombay Excellence in Teaching Award in 2017, the Prof. S.P. Sukhatme Excellence in Teaching Award in 2021 and a Young Faculty Award in 2009. He has also received recognition through IEEE-related awards and fellowships.His work in power systems and microgrid technologies has resulted in research publications and collaborations in the field.Why Is Suryanarayana Doolla In The News?Doolla came into focus following the death of 20-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode on September 18, 2026.According to IIT Bombay's account, Wakode was found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination. The institute said the student had uploaded the examination question paper to an AI platform to seek answers. Doolla was the course instructor and was invigilating the examination.The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum subsequently said Doolla was carrying out his responsibilities in accordance with the institute's Senate-approved academic policies when he reported the alleged examination malpractice.IIT Bombay has said Wakode was subsequently counselled by the instructor and the Head of Department and was assured that the examination incident would not adversely affect his academic career. The institute has maintained that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him before his death.IIT Bombay Faculty Forum Backs DoollaAmid the protests and allegations surrounding the death of Sahil Wakode, the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum issued a statement on September 20 expressing solidarity with Professor Suryanarayana Doolla.The Faculty Forum, a formal body through which IIT Bombay faculty members voice their views to the institute and other bodies, said Doolla had been discharging his duties in accordance with the institute’s Senate-approved academic policies. It also offered condolences to Wakode’s family.According to the statement, Doolla was the course instructor and was invigilating the mid-semester examination from 11 am to 1 pm on September 18 when he observed a student allegedly in unauthorised possession and use of a smartphone during the exam.The Faculty Forum said Doolla reported the alleged academic malpractice to the institute authorities for further action, describing this as part of the institute-approved procedure.“We strongly express our solidarity with our colleague Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla,” the forum said, adding that it was distressed over what it described as the tarnishing of his reputation.The statement was issued by Professor Rajkumar S. Pant, president of the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum. The forum's account represents the faculty body's position on Doolla's actions; allegations made by Wakode's family and the police investigation remain separate matters.Allegations By Student’s FamilyWakode's family has made allegations of harassment and caste-based discrimination. A police case was registered following the family's complaint, and the allegations are under investigation. IIT Bombay has denied allegations of caste discrimination and has disputed claims concerning the circumstances and disciplinary action following the examination incident.The investigation into Wakode's death has subsequently been taken over by the Mumbai Crime Branch, according to reports.Student Protests And Doolla’s SuspensionFollowing Wakode's death, students launched protests on the IIT Bombay campus and demanded institutional action, including action against Doolla.On September 20, IIT Bombay Director Prof Shireesh Kedare met the protesting students and signed an 18-point charter of demands submitted by them. The demands covered issues including accountability, student support and institutional processes.Doolla was suspended by IIT Bombay on September 20 amid the protests.

Mumbai: The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has expressed solidarity with Professor Suryanarayana Doolla amid concerns over the alleged tarnishing of his reputation following the death of a student at the institute.Forum Offers Condolences To Student’s FamilyIn a statement issued on Sunday, the forum mourned the student’s death and offered condolences to his family. It said Professor Doolla had been discharging his responsibilities in accordance with the academic policies approved by the institute’s Senate.According to the forum, Professor Doolla was invigilating a mid-semester examination between 11 am and 1 pm on Friday, September 18, when he allegedly found a student in unauthorised possession of a smartphone and using it during the examination.Action Taken As Per Institute ProcedureThe professor subsequently reported the alleged academic malpractice to the institute’s authorities for further action, following the prescribed procedure, the statement said.Navi Mumbai Professor To Present Research On Gender, Ecology And Literature At International Conference In China“The Faculty Forum of IIT Bombay is absolutely distressed with the tarnishing of the reputation of our colleague Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla, who was merely discharging his academic duties and following the institute-approved procedures,” the forum stated.Forum Does Not Link Examination Incident With DeathIt did not provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the student’s death or indicate whether the student referred to in the examination incident was the same individual whose death it mourned.The statement was issued by Professor Rajkumar S Pant, president of the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum. The forum is a formal body through which faculty members at IIT Bombay convey their views to the institute and other organisations.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/