IIT Bombay Director Resignation Rumour Denied Amid Student Suicide Row

MUMBAI: IIT Bombay on Monday, September 21, categorically denied reports that its director, Professor Shireesh B Kedare, had resigned amid protests and an investigation following the death by suicide of 20-year-old BTech student Sahil Wakode. The institute said the resignation reports were false as scrutiny continued over the role of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla in the case.

IIT Bombay Director Resignation Reports Denied

The IIT Bombay director became the subject of social media speculation on Monday, with claims circulating that Kedare had stepped down from his position.

The institute rejected those reports and stated that the director had not resigned. The clarification came as the campus faced continuing protests over the death of Wakode, a second-year student in the Energy Science and Engineering department.

According to the Times of India, the institute also announced that Suryanarayana Doolla had been suspended from his administrative position with immediate effect.

Suryanarayana Doolla Suspended From Administrative Role

Suryanarayana Doolla, a professor in IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was serving as Dean of Administrative Affairs when the controversy intensified.

He was the invigilator during the examination involving Wakode on September 18. The student was later found dead in his hostel room.

Police registered an FIR naming Suryanarayana Doolla following a complaint by Wakode’s father. The complaint included allegations of caste-based discrimination and harassment. These allegations remain subject to investigation and have not been established as facts.

The Mumbai Police has transferred the investigation to its Crime Branch. The case therefore remains ongoing, with no final determination on responsibility for the student’s death.

IIT Bombay Suicide Case Triggers Campus Protests

The IIT Bombay suicide case has led to protests by students demanding action and an independent investigation. Students have also criticised the institute’s initial communication about the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death.

IIT Bombay subsequently apologised for aspects of its earlier communication, saying that details surrounding the death remained under investigation.

The administration has also faced demands concerning student safety, institutional procedures and the handling of disciplinary matters.

Faculty Backs Professor Amid Investigation

The developments have also divided opinion on campus. Faculty members have publicly supported Suryanarayana Doolla, while student protesters have demanded stronger action against him.

The Faculty Forum said Doolla should be allowed due process and supported an independent investigation. His removal from the administrative role does not amount to a finding of guilt.

The IIT Bombay director has said further action concerning Doolla will depend on the outcome of the investigation.

The IIT Bombay suicide investigation remains active, while the institute’s denial of the director’s resignation puts an end, for now, to the specific claim circulating online. The focus has shifted back to the police investigation, the campus protests and questions surrounding institutional accountability.