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IIT Bombay Faculty Backs Professor Amid Student Suicide Row
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News18•21-09-2026, 05:00
IIT Bombay Faculty Backs Professor Amid Student Suicide Row
- •IIT Bombay Faculty Forum supports Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, an exam invigilator, following a student's death by suicide.
- •The professor reported the student for unauthorized smartphone use and uploading the question paper to ChatGPT during an exam.
- •The forum stated Prof. Doolla was following institutional protocol regarding academic malpractice.
- •IIT Bombay previously confirmed no disciplinary action was initiated against the student, who was counselled by the instructor and HOD.
- •The student's parents filed a case under the SC/ST Act, alleging discrimination, while students protested demanding accountability.
Key Questions Answered
A second-year BTech student from IIT Bombay died by suicide in his hostel room after being caught using a smartphone to upload an exam question paper onto ChatGPT to seek answers, though the institute stated no disciplinary action was taken against him and that he was counselled.
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum expressed strong solidarity with Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, stating that he was simply discharging his academic duties and following Senate-approved institutional protocols after discovering the student's unauthorized smartphone use.
The student's parents filed a case under the SC/ST Act alleging caste-based discrimination and harassment by a teacher, and the investigation has since been transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch.
