Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla is a faculty member in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay, where he has worked since 2009. His academic background includes a BTech in Electrical Engineering, an MTech in Energy Systems Engineering from IIT Bombay, and a PhD in Power Systems from IIT Delhi. His research includes smart grids, microgrids, power-electronic converter control and renewable/distributed energy integration.
He has also held senior administrative responsibilities at IIT Bombay. The institute’s current functionaries page lists him as Dean of Administrative Affairs; he previously served as Dean of Student Affairs.
Why is he at the centre of the current controversy?
The controversy follows the September 18, 2026 death of second-year IIT Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode.
According to IIT Bombay’s account, Doolla was invigilating an examination when Wakode was found using a smartphone. The institute said the student had uploaded the examination paper to ChatGPT to obtain answers. IIT Bombay says that, rather than initiating disciplinary proceedings, the instructor and department head counselled the student and told him the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.
Wakode was subsequently found dead in his hostel room. His family has alleged caste-based harassment and threats, and police have registered a case invoking provisions concerning abetment to suicide and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Those allegations are subject to investigation and have not been established as facts.
What are students protesting?
Students have held protests demanding accountability and greater transparency regarding what happened after the examination incident. Reports say some protesters have called for action against Doolla.
At the same time, IIT Bombay’s Faculty Forum has publicly expressed solidarity with Doolla, saying he was performing his invigilation duties according to the institute’s academic policies.
So there are currently two important, competing accounts: the institute/faculty position that Doolla followed established examination procedures, and allegations from the student’s family and protesters concerning harassment and discrimination. The police investigation is intended to establish what actually occurred.
