The death of 20-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode on 18 September has led to protests on campus, a police investigation and questions about what happened during an examination hours before his death.
Sahil, a second-year BTech student in Energy Science and Engineering, was allegedly found with a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination. Professor Suryanarayana Doolla was the course instructor and invigilator during the exam.
Sahil’s family later named Doolla in a police complaint alleging harassment and caste-based discrimination. IIT Bombay has denied the caste discrimination allegation and said no disciplinary action had been initiated against Sahil before his death.
So, who is Suryanarayana Doolla, what happened during that exam and what action has followed?
Who Is Suryanarayana Doolla?
Professor Suryanarayana Doolla is a faculty member in IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering.
He has been associated with the institute for more than a decade. His academic work covers power systems, smart grids, microgrids, renewable-energy integration, converter control and energy efficiency.
Doolla completed his BTech in Electrical Engineering from Nagarjuna University in 2000. He then earned an MTech in Energy Systems Engineering from IIT Bombay in 2002 and a PhD in Power Systems from IIT Delhi in 2007.
Before joining IIT Bombay, he worked with Power Research and Development Consultants in Bengaluru and Machine 2 Machine in Hyderabad.
He has also held administrative roles at IIT Bombay. Institute records show that he served as Dean of Student Affairs from 2023, while the institute’s current functionaries page lists him as Dean of Administrative Affairs.
His academic recognitions include IIT Bombay’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2017, the Young Faculty Award in 2009 and the Prof. SP Sukhatme Excellence in Teaching Award in 2021.
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What Happened During Sahil’s Exam?
The incident that brought Doolla into focus happened on 18 September.
According to IIT Bombay, Sahil was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination. The institute said he had uploaded the examination question paper on an AI platform to seek answers.
Doolla was the course instructor and the invigilator during the examination. He reported the alleged examination malpractice to the institute authorities.
What happened immediately afterwards is disputed.
Sahil’s parents and some students have alleged that Doolla took Sahil outside the examination hall and that he was threatened with suspension. The family later alleged that Sahil had faced harassment and caste-based discrimination.
IIT Bombay has given a different account. The institute said Sahil was counselled by the instructor and the Head of Department and was assured that the examination incident would not adversely affect his academic career. It also said that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him before his death.
There is therefore no established finding that a threat of suspension was made. The circumstances surrounding the interaction remain part of the investigation.
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What Was Doolla’s Response After Sahil’s Death?
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum issued a statement supporting him while also expressing condolences to Sahil’s family.
The faculty body said Doolla was carrying out his duties under IIT Bombay’s approved academic policy. It said he had observed the alleged unauthorised possession and use of a smartphone during the examination and reported it to the institute authorities as required.
The Faculty Forum also said it was concerned about what it described as damage to Doolla’s reputation.
At the same time, Sahil’s parents have maintained their allegations against Doolla, and those allegations are now part of the police investigation.
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What Action Has Been Taken Against Him?
A day after Sahil’s death, Mumbai Police registered an FIR based on a complaint by his father, Ravindra Wakode.
The FIR names Doolla along with other officials. Police invoked Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to abetment of suicide, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case was subsequently transferred to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch.
The allegations in the FIR have not been established in court.
Meanwhile, protests broke out at IIT Bombay. Students demanded an independent investigation and action against Doolla.
On 20 September, IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh Kedare met protesting students and signed an 18-point charter of demands. One of the demands was Doolla’s immediate suspension.
Doolla was suspended by IIT Bombay on 20 September. As of 21 September, the police investigation remains ongoing. His suspension is an institutional action and does not by itself determine criminal liability.
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What Happens Next?
The investigation will now have to establish what happened between the examination incident and Sahil’s death, including the allegations made by his family.
IIT Bombay has also agreed to consider wider student demands, including an independent probe into Sahil’s death, changes to disciplinary processes, better mental-health support and greater accountability.
The institute has separately apologised for its earlier public communication about Sahil’s death, saying it was inappropriate to make assumptions about the circumstances before a proper investigation was completed.
For now, three things remain distinct: the examination incident, the allegations made by Sahil’s family and the police investigation into his death. None should be treated as a final finding until the relevant investigations are completed.
TL;DR | News At a Glance
Who is Suryanarayana Doolla?
He is an IIT Bombay faculty member in Energy Science and Engineering who has also held senior administrative positions at the institute.
What happened during Sahil Wakode’s exam?
IIT Bombay said Sahil was allegedly found using a mobile phone and had uploaded the question paper to an AI platform. Doolla was the course instructor and invigilator.
Did Doolla threaten Sahil with suspension?
Sahil’s family and some students have alleged this. IIT Bombay has denied that account, saying Sahil was counselled and assured the incident would not affect his academic career.
What case has been filed?
Mumbai Police registered an FIR naming Doolla and others after a complaint by Sahil’s father, invoking abetment-to-suicide and SC/ST Act provisions. The investigation was transferred to the Crime Branch.
What action has IIT Bombay taken?
Doolla was suspended on 20 September following student protests and demands for action.
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