IIT Bombay has suspended Professor Suryanarayan Doola from the post of Dean in connection with the death of BTech student Sahil Wakode. The institute has also apologised for its earlier statements about Sahil’s death.
IIT Bombay said it was not appropriate to make any claims before the investigation into what happened before Sahil’s death was completed.
Sahil’s body was found in his hostel room on the night of September 18. He was a second-year student pursuing a course in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay.
In its official statement on September 19, IIT Bombay said Sahil was caught using a phone during a mid-semester exam on the day of the incident. The institute claimed that Sahil tried to upload the question paper to ChatGPT. He then went to his hostel and died by suicide.
High number of suicides in IIT Bombay
This is the third suicide case at IIT Bombay and the ninth in the country this year. In the last six years, 2025 saw the highest number, with 16 IIT students dying by suicide. According to the Global IIT Alumni Support Group, a total of 160 IIT students have died by suicide over the past 20 years.
IIT Bombay says director has not resigned yet
IIT Bombay has also clarified reports about Director Prof Shirish Kedare’s resignation. In a statement issued on Monday, the institute said the director has not resigned. It dismissed reports claiming that he had stepped down.
The IIT Bombay Board is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss the resignation issue. Before this, Director Kedare held a three-hour meeting with protesting students late on Sunday night.
He had told the students that he would resign, but the prescribed process would have to be completed first. The director had also signed a document containing the students’ 18 demands.
22-year-old Sahil was found dead in his hostel room on the night of September 18.
Students’ 18 demands include director’s resignation and several conditions
The document says weekly updates should be provided on the demands. The students said that if the agreed demands are not fulfilled within a month, the Director, Dean AP and Dean SA should resign.
The students also demanded a public apology from IIT Bombay. They alleged that an old LinkedIn post by the institute provided incomplete and unclear information about Sahil, damaging his reputation.
They also demanded an open house with the Director, Dean SA, Dean AP and Sahil’s department head. The students said they should be given an opportunity to directly raise questions related to the incident.
They also demanded financial assistance for the families of all students who died at IIT Bombay this year.
Parents allege professor used casteist slurs against Sahil
Sahil’s parents filed an FIR against Professor Doola and others on September 19. They have alleged harassment and caste discrimination against their son. Sahil’s father, Ravindra Wakode, alleged that Professor Doola had been abusing and harassing his son with casteist slurs for around three months.
In his complaint, Sahil’s father also named IIT Bombay Director Shirish B. Kedare, some faculty members and senior officials. The complaint alleges that Sahil was harassed on the director’s instructions.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections for abetment of suicide and the SC/ST Act. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is now investigating the case. According to PTI, the Crime Branch may summon the accused professor and others for questioning. All aspects related to the allegations are being investigated.
Government recommends one counsellor for every 1,000 students
In 2024, the Education Ministry set a target of one counsellor for every 1,000 students. However, IIT Kharagpur had around 1,500 students per counsellor, while the figures were 1,214 in Delhi and 1,058 in Kanpur.
Academic pressure the biggest reason for stress among IIT students
According to an IIT survey, more than 6 in 10 students named academic stress as the biggest pressure leading to suicide, accounting for 61% of cases, while four other reasons combined accounted for the remaining 39%. According to an alumni support group, a large number of suicide cases occur around examination periods.
The Ministry of Education had set a target in 2024 of one counsellor for every 1,000 students. However, IIT Kharagpur had around 1,500 students per counsellor, IIT Delhi had 1,214, and IIT Kanpur had 1,058. Over the past 5 years, IIT Kharagpur has recorded the highest number of suicide cases.
Mid-semester exams postponed amid student protests
More than 400 students protested against the administration following Sahil’s death. Meanwhile, the mid-semester examinations have been postponed.
