A single day after Professor Suryanarayana Doolla was booked under a dubious caste discrimination case following an exam incident, students and alumni who trained directly under the senior faculty member stepped forward to defend his record and character.

The current researchers and former graduates of the Power Engineering Laboratory, housed within the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-Bombay), issued an extensive solidarity statement. In their collective message, the scholars made their moral conviction explicit:

“In the wake of recent events and public allegations concerning Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, we, the current and former research scholars and students who have worked, learned, and grown under his mentorship in the Power Engineering Lab, feel a profound moral and personal obligation to speak.”

Their joint declaration cautioned against hasty judgments driven by outrage rather than verifiable facts:

“Public discourse often compresses complex institutional and human realities into polarized, one dimensional narratives. While we do not claim knowledge of every aspect under official inquiry, nor do we seek to diminish the gravity of any tragedy, justice cannot exist in the absence of truth, context, and due process. We know Professor Surya not from headlines or hearsay, but through years of daily academic engagement, personal mentorship, and shared challenges. We know his character, his ethics, and his unwavering commitment to his students.”

Recounting the academic atmosphere inside the laboratory, the signatories noted that his approach to teaching was centered on constructive guidance and personal security:

“Our experience of Professor Surya has consistently been that of an approachable, fair, and deeply supportive guide. Over the years, he actively cultivated a lab environment grounded in intellectual freedom, repeatedly reminding us that meaningful research requires the space to explore, make mistakes, and grow without undue fear or pressure. For us, these were never empty words; they defined our daily reality in the Power Engineering Lab. He gave us the confidence to face academic failure, the patience to work through research blocks, and the encouragement to find our own paths.”

The scholars also referenced laboratory photographs showing collaborative group dinners, late-night problem-solving sessions, and informal mentorship interactions over the years to show their daily experience under his supervision:

“We share these pictures because they show the real person we know every day. This is our lab as we lived it, full of shared meals, late night troubleshooting, and patient encouragement across all these years.”

Beyond the confines of academic laboratories, Professor Doolla’s students pointed to the administrative responsibilities he took up on campus, specifically during his tenure managing student welfare:

“Beyond our laboratory, we witnessed firsthand the immense strain and responsibility he shouldered as Dean (Student Affairs). Decisions affecting students and the institute require navigating delicate balances between academic standards, administrative mandates, and legal regulations. We observed the seriousness, conscientiousness, and integrity with which he approached these thankless responsibilities, always striving to balance institutional considerations with empathy and student welfare.”

Recognizing the gravity of the legal accusations, the group emphasized why they could not remain bystanders while their mentor's reputation was under attack:

“To remain silent today would be a disservice to someone who consistently stood by his students during their most vulnerable and difficult moments.”“We urge the administration, the investigating authorities, the media, and the wider public to uphold the sanctity of due process. A rigorous, impartial, and evidence based inquiry is essential. Prejudgment, sensationalism, and the mischaracterization of standard administrative and academic duty do not just harm a dedicated educator, they erode the essential foundation of trust, candor, and mentorship necessary for any academic institution to function.”“Professor Surya taught us resilience, integrity, and courage. Today, we stand by him with unshakeable respect, gratitude, and solidarity.”

The collective declaration was signed by twenty-two students and alumni of the Power Engineering Laboratory, representing academic cohorts spanning over a decade:

• Amit Saklani (MTech 2013)
• Aneena Felix (MTech 2013)
• Srijan Som (MTech 2013)
• Amit Singh (Research Associate 2013 to 2015)
• Mridul Kumar (MTech 2017)
• Minu Martin (MTech 2022)
• Deepika Chhetija (PhD 2024)
• Yusuf Gupta (PhD 2021)
• Abhishek Tiwari (MTech 2016)
• Diptiman Dey (PhD pursuing)
• Salil Madhav Dubey (PhD pursuing)
• Vamshi Mudavath (MTech 2026)
• Vishal Shukla (PhD pursuing)
• Imran Khan (PhD 2025)
• Munesh Kumar Singh (PhD pursuing)
• KP Vineeth (MTech 2024)
• Kanishka M R (MTech 2024)
• Vedant Chandak (BTech + MTech 2024)
• Sushrut Thakar (BTech + MTech 2018)
• Ravi Vaidya (BTech + MTech 2017)
• Gautam Matkar (MTech 2017)
• Rahul Nellikkath (BTech + MTech 2019)

Alongside the joint resolution, individual researchers shared specific personal accounts illustrating their mentor’s character.

Amit Singh, who served as a Research Associate from 2013 to 2015, recalled how Professor Doolla handled a severe medical crisis during his time at the institute:

“I was facing health issues during my stay at IITB. I have developed kidney stones and requested sir for a leave as the pain was difficult to bear. Sir is not known to give out speeches, but his actions leave a deep impact on how to be in difficult situations. He allowed me to work from home till I fully recovered. Although he had many commitments, he would drop a message and sometimes call to check on my health. Sir has been our pride and a true mentor. It’s very sad and painful that they are accusing him of something that he can never do.”

Yusuf Gupta, who earned his doctoral degree under Professor Doolla in 2021, offered his sympathies to the bereaved family while reflecting on the open culture inside the research lab:

“A young man, Sahil Wakode, died at IIT Bombay this week. Before anything else, my thoughts are with his parents, siblings and family, and I hope the inquiry into what happened is both thorough and impartial. I also find that I cannot stay quiet about a person I have known well, Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla. He was my PhD supervisor at the Department of Energy Science & Engineering, IIT Bombay. At any given time in our research lab, one would find students and researchers from different parts of India, of different religions and socio-economic backgrounds, all coming together as one group, under his mentorship. What I remember is that he strove to create an environment of academic and personal freedom, great mutual respect, and constant encouragement during difficult times.”

Salil Madhav Dubey, a currently enrolled doctoral scholar working directly under Professor Doolla, reflected on the rare balance of discipline and warmth his guide maintained, highlighting the contradictions in the allegations:

“It takes years of hard work to become a professor. But becoming a professor whom students can approach without hesitation comes from one’s nature and mindset. For me, Suryanarayana Doolla has always been one of those rare “cool” professors. He is calm, approachable and flexible with students, yet sincere and disciplined about his responsibilities. I have known him closely as my PhD guide, teacher and mentor. Even while carrying significant administrative responsibilities, he always made time to listen and help students. During his tenure as Dean (Student Affairs), I witnessed his emphasis on student wellbeing, including his efforts around the Student Wellness Centre. The irony I find impossible to overlook is that someone who, as Dean SA, took administrative steps intended to prevent caste-based identification and discrimination among students is today himself facing an allegation of caste discrimination. The loss of a young student is deeply tragic, and my heartfelt condolences are with his family and loved ones. It deserves sensitivity and a fair investigation. At the same time, an allegation is not a conclusion. The facts must emerge through due process. Over the years, in my interactions with Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla as my teacher, PhD guide and mentor, I have always found him approachable, supportive and deeply concerned about student wellbeing. That has been my experience of him, and it is the experience I feel is important to share today. I stand with my guide, mentor and teacher.”

Chronology and Institutional Background

The controversy began on Friday, 18 September 2026, during the mid-semester examinations at IIT-Bombay. Sahil Wakode, a second-year undergraduate BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was caught red-handed indulging in examination malpractice. Professor Suryanarayana Doolla was invigilating the exam hall when he discovered Wakode using an unauthorized mobile phone. Reports indicated that the question paper had been uploaded to ChatGPT to obtain answers. In accordance with standard institute procedures, the invigilator reported the matter to higher administrative authorities. Following the test, the student returned to his quarters and tragically took his own life inside his hostel room later that evening.

The suicide sparked demonstrations across the campus, with student groups organizing protests to demand immediate punitive measures against Professor Doolla. By Saturday, 19 September 2026, the situation escalated when Sahil’s parents leveled serious criminal allegations, claiming that Professor Doolla had subjected their son to relentless mental harassment and casteist slurs over the preceding three months. They further alleged that these actions were carried out under instructions from IIT-Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare.

Crucially, institutional records revealed that throughout his entire tenure at IIT-Bombay, Sahil Wakode had never submitted a formal complaint against Professor Doolla or Director Shireesh Kedare—either to the general institute administration or to the dedicated SC/ST cell on campus.

Academic Colleagues Rally Behind the Invigilator

Following the police complaint by the student’s family under the stringent Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Faculty Forum of IIT-Bombay issued an official resolution on Sunday, 20 September 2026, firmly backing Professor Doolla:

“The Faculty Forum of IIT Bombay mourns the loss of life of a student of our institute, and offers deepest condolences to his family. We strongly express our solidarity with our colleague Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla, who was discharging his duties in line with the institute’s Senate approved academic policy currently in force.”

Outlining the precise sequence of events in the examination hall, the Faculty Forum detailed:

“Prof. Doolla, the course instructor, was invigilating in the midsemester examination from 11-00 to 13-00 on Friday 18th September 2026, when he observed that a student was indulging in an academic malpractice, viz., unauthorized possession and use of a smartphone during the exam. As part of the institute approved procedure, he reported the incident to institute authorities for further action in the matter.”

The forum voiced its deep dismay over the immediate public vilification of a teacher who was carrying out an assigned regulatory role:

“The Faculty Forum of IIT Bombay is absolutely distressed with the tarnishing of the reputation of our colleague Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla, who was merely discharging his academic duties, and following the institute approved procedures.”

The formal release was signed by Professor Rajkumar S. Pant, President of the Faculty Forum. Colleagues noted that the professor had been booked under the harsh SC/ST legislation solely on the basis of claims brought forward after the student was apprehended during an exam.

Administrative Concessions and Executive Suspension

Although IIT-Bombay initially stood by Professor Doolla, the institute adjusted its stance under the pressure of mounting campus protests. Protesting students had submitted a charter of eighteen demands, which included calls for the educator's complete dismissal from his teaching and research responsibilities.

On Monday, 21 September 2026, IIT-Bombay Director Professor Shireesh Kedare sent an internal communication to the student body announcing an administrative suspension:

“The Deanship of Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla is suspended with immediate effect. Any further action will be taken after investigation.”

While the agitating groups had pushed for his full suspension as a professor, Director Kedare limited the disciplinary measure strictly to his administrative post. Professor Doolla, who had previously served as the Dean of Student Affairs, was functioning as the Dean of Administrative Affairs at the time of the incident.

In the wake of persistent unrest and public debate surrounding the caste atrocity allegations, the IIT-Bombay administration also issued an apology regarding its earlier statements that had ruled out discrimination:

“We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil. The details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities. In view of the ongoing investigation, it was inappropriate to have set out or characterised details relating to the events preceding his demise before they had been duly established through the appropriate investigative process.”

Despite these administrative developments, verified institute records confirm that prior to the cheating incident on 18 September 2026, not a single grievance, memorandum, or report had ever been lodged by the student with either the administration or the SC/ST cell against Professor Doolla or Director Kedare. The legal proceedings and internal inquiries remain underway.