Crime Branch Takes Over IIT-Bombay Student Death Probe; Faculty Forum Backs Professor
Mumbai Police transfer the IIT-Bombay student death probe to the Crime Branch, while the institute's Faculty Forum backs the professor named in the FIR.
The Mumbai Police have handed over the investigation into the death of a second-year IIT-Bombay student to the Crime Branch, with an Assistant Commissioner of Police set to lead the probe. The transfer was made late on Saturday, a day after the student, Sahil, was found dead in his hostel room on Friday.
The case stems from an incident during an examination in which the student was reported by a professor for possessing a phone. According to reports, Sahil had uploaded the question paper on an AI platform. The professor, Suryanarayana Doolla, was invigilating the exam at the time.
On Sunday, the Faculty Forum of IIT Bombay expressed condolences to the student's family but extended its support to Prof. Doolla, who has been named in the FIR along with other institute officials. The forum said the professor acted in accordance with academic policies approved by the institute's Senate and followed the institute-approved procedure in reporting the incident. It added that it was "absolutely distressed" at the damage done to his reputation.
Sahil's family has alleged that he was subjected to casteist remarks. In the FIR, his father, Ravindra, said his son had told him that Prof. Doolla had harassed him for three months. The family did not lodge a complaint with the institute at that time. The FIR has invoked the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The family and some students have claimed that on the day of the examination, officials took Sahil out of the hall and threatened him with suspension. IIT-Bombay, however, said no disciplinary action was initiated against the student, adding that officials counselled him and assured him the incident would not affect his academic career.
Institute director Shireesh Kedare denied caste-based discrimination, stating that caste-related information about students remains confidential and is not available to faculty or administrators. The institute's SC/ST cell said it had not received any complaint from Sahil regarding caste-based discrimination.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State's health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha's suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)