States » WestPosted at: Oct 18 2026 9:57PM


Maha: VBA workers protest at IIT Powai over student suicide case; police detain protesters

Mumbai; Oct 18 (UNI) Workers of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) staged protest at IIT Powai campus in connection with death of second-year B.Tech student Sahil Wakode, demanding arrest of Professor Suryanarayan Doolla.
According to police, VBA workers gathered outside IIT Bombay Powai campus raising slogans demanding arrest of Prof Doolla. Police detained protesters to maintain law and order and later released them.
Protest comes amid continued demand for arrest by deceased student's family. Parents had earlier staged hunger strike at Azad Maidan seeking justice and arrest of Prof Doolla and IIT Bombay Director Shirish Kedare.
Sahil Wakode, 22, second-year student of Department of Energy Science and Engineering, hailing from Yavatmal, was found dead in his hostel room on evening of September 18.
Hours earlier on same day, he was allegedly caught using mobile phone during mid-semester examination. Prof Doolla, who was invigilating, asked him to leave examination hall. Institute had said student allegedly uploaded question paper on ChatGPT.
Based on complaint lodged by student's father Ravindra Wakode, Powai police registered an FIR against Professor Doolla under Section 108 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to abetment of suicide and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Case was later transferred to Mumbai Crime Branch.
Family alleged caste-based and mental harassment for around three months and demanded arrest. Crime Branch questioned Prof Doolla for around eight to ten hours on Powai campus.
During questioning, Prof Doolla told investigators he had followed guidelines and procedures prescribed by institute and denied using any caste-based or derogatory words.
Prof Doolla was removed as Dean of Students Welfare and sent on leave by IIT Bombay following protests. Board has constituted 10-member committee to inquire into circumstances surrounding death. Crime Branch has recorded statements of around 40 persons including parents, students, hostel staff.
Investigation remains underway.
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Tags: #Maha: VBA workers protest at IIT Powai over student suicide case; police detain protesters
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