# IIT-B student council distances from protesters as crime branch questions professor 2026-10-04T20:31:28+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets General secretaries of the official student council at IIT-Bombay have distanced themselves from the ongoing protest near the main gate of the Powai campus, stating that the 10-12 protesting students do not represent the wider student community. In a statement on Sunday, 4 October, the council said the continuing protest was affecting thousands of students not participating in it, many of whom had classes, exams, research and placements. The protesting students, however, questioned the council's independence and said they would continue with their agitation. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Crime Branch investigating the alleged abetment to suicide case of 20-year-old BTech student Sahil Wakode recorded the statement of Professor Suryanarayan Doolla on Saturday, 3 October. The professor, who was questioned for around eight hours, denied all allegations levelled against him. Wakode's parents had alleged in their police complaint that Professor Doolla had harassed their son. The Crime Branch is expected to summon IIT-Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare soon to record his statement. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The two sources cover different aspects of the same tragedy. The Times of India reports the student council's statement distancing itself from the protesting group, quoting the council's claim that some protesters have affiliations with external vested interests and that constructive engagement with the administration is underway. The Assam Tribune reports the Crime Branch's investigation, noting Professor Doolla's denial of all allegations and the faculty forum's support for him, saying he was targeted for performing his duties. The Times of India includes the protesters' counter-claim that the council is not independent. Together, the reports show institutional stakeholders, the council, the faculty, the protesters, each defending their position while the police investigation continues. The next step is the expected summoning of IIT-Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare by the Crime Branch. ## Coverage Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Reports council statement and protesters' response without taking sides - assamtribune.com (neutral report) Straight reporting of crime branch investigation and professor's denial This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Tags: IIT Bombay, Mumbai Crime Branch, Sahil Wakode, Shireesh Kedare, Suryanarayan Doolla Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/iit-b-student-council-distances-from-protesters-as-crime-branch-questions-professor/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/iit-b-student-council-distances-from-protesters-as-crime-branch-questions-professor/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/