Stories
IIT Bombay's U-turn on Sahil's Death: Apology for Initial Statement, Dean Removed.
- •IIT Bombay publicly apologized for its initial statement regarding the circumstances of Sahil's death, which mentioned mobile phone use.
- •Professor Suryanarayana Doolla was removed from the Dean post but remains a professor; a 10-member inquiry committee has been formed.
- •Sahil was accused of using a mobile phone and uploading the question paper to an AI platform during an exam on September 18, prior to his death.
- •Sahil's family alleged caste discrimination and mental harassment, leading to a police case under abetment to suicide and SC/ST Act.
- •Students protested at IIT Bombay, presenting an 18-point charter of demands for an independent investigation and improved student welfare.
Key Questions Answered
IIT Bombay apologized for its initial communication because it acknowledged that it was inappropriate to publicly detail or characterize the circumstances leading up to student Sahil Wakode's death before the formal investigation was completed.
Following student protests and allegations regarding the exam incident where Sahil was accused of using a mobile phone, Professor Suryanarayana Doolla was immediately removed from his administrative post as Dean of Administrative Affairs, though he remains a faculty member.
The Board of Governors of IIT Bombay formed a 10-member inquiry committee chaired by Professor Ramesh Venkateswaran, while the Mumbai Crime Branch is conducting a separate criminal investigation utilizing CCTV, forensic evidence, and witness statements.
