# IIT Bombay faculty backs professor amid student suicide probe

2026-09-21T13:16:58+00:00 | India | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has issued a statement supporting professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was named in an FIR after a second-year BTech student died by suicide on September 18. The forum said Doolla has not been suspended but was temporarily relieved as dean of administrative affairs to allow an independent investigation. It called media reports damaging his reputation false and misleading. The student's father, Ravindra Wakode, has alleged caste-based harassment by the professor and the institute. The Crime Branch is investigating under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The institute apologised for an earlier statement that said the student was caught using ChatGPT during an exam, calling it inappropriate before the probe was complete. Students have protested for four days, demanding the director's resignation and an independent inquiry into four campus suicides. Police detained student protesters outside the campus. IIT Bombay has scheduled an open house with students and called a special Board of Governors meeting.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

The faculty forum statement, reported by Hindustan Times and Times of India, frames Doolla as a distinguished teacher following procedures, while omitting the student's caste-discrimination allegations. Gulf News leads with the Crime Branch investigation and the family's complaint. The core difference is whether the story centres on a professor's reputation or on systemic harassment allegations. The scheduled open house and Board of Governors meeting will test whether the institute addresses student demands for an independent probe.

## Coverage

- gulfnews.com (neutral report) <https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/iit-bombay-suspends-dean-as-crime-branch-takes-over-student-death-probe-1.500682364>
  Leads with Crime Branch probe and family allegations, reports both sides without slant
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/iit-bombay-faculty-forum-backs-professor-accused-of-abetting-student-suicide-101789987302415.html>
  Reports faculty forum backing Doolla and a professor's objection, balanced
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (sensationalist) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/iit-bombay-student-suicide-faculty-march-in-support-of-prof-doolla-victims-father-claims-casteism-top-developments/articleshow/134389978.cms>
  Buries the story in a news wrap, leading with the faculty forum defence, not the death
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (sensationalist) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/evening-news-wrap-iit-bombay-faculty-protest-in-support-of-prof-iran-warns-us-of-new-weapons-targets-more/articleshow/134389318.cms>
  Buries the story in a news wrap, leading with the faculty forum defence, not the death

Tags: Crime Branch, IIT Bombay, Mumbai, Shireesh Kedare, Suryanarayana Doolla
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