The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has expressed support for Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who has been named as an accused in the suicide case of BTech student Sahil Wakode. The forum also held a campus march on Monday amid protests following the student’s death on September 18.

Around 750 faculty members were expected to participate in the march in support of Doolla. The protest comes after Wakode was found dead in his hostel room, hours after he was reportedly caught using ChatGPT during an examination.

The Faculty Forum issued a press release on Monday disputing reports that Doolla had been suspended from IIT Bombay. “The Faculty Forum of IIT Bombay stands strongly with our colleague Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla. We would like to clarify that: 1. Contrary to several reports in the media, Prof. Suryanarayana Dolla has not been suspended from his service at IIT Bombay, and continues to be a member of the faculty of the institute in good standing. 2. We are given to understand that he has been temporarily relieved from his duties as Dean (Administrative Affairs) of the institute, to enable independent, unbiased investigation of the unfortunate incident on 18th September 2026," the Forum said.

The forum described Doolla as a distinguished faculty member who has received several honours. It said he had received two awards for excellence in teaching based on student feedback. It also highlighted his earlier work as Dean (Student Affairs) and his contribution to student welfare initiatives.

“We are distressed by the vilification of our colleague’s reputation by false and misleading reports that have appeared in the media," the statement further read.

The statement was issued in the name of Prof. Rajkumar S. Pant, President of the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum. The forum is a formal body representing around 750 faculty members and provides a platform to raise views on matters concerning IIT Bombay and other institutions.

Doolla was relieved of his deanship earlier on Monday after protests intensified on campus over Wakode’s death. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is investigating the case. Police are likely to question Doolla and others named in connection with the investigation.

Wakode’s father had filed a police complaint alleging harassment and caste-based discrimination by campus authorities. He alleged that Doolla subjected his son to caste-based harassment and used casteist slurs against him over a period of three months.

The Powai police registered an FIR under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with abetment of suicide. The case also includes provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Wakode was pursuing a BTech in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay.