IIT Bombay student death: Protesters detained, Director denies resignation
Synopsis
Mumbai Police detained protesters outside IIT Bombay demanding Director Shireesh B. Kedare's resignation and Professor Suryanarayana Doolla's arrest over student Sahil Wakode's death. As fake resignation videos spread, the institute denied Kedare quit, confirmed Doolla's suspension as Dean, apologised for its earlier characterisation of events, and handed the investigation to the Crime Branch — all on the same day.
Key Takeaways
Mumbai Police detained protesters outside IIT Bombay on 21 September 2026 demanding the resignation of Director Shireesh B.
Demonstrators also demanded the arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla in connection with the death of student Sahil Wakode .
The Mumbai Crime Branch took over the investigation; Wakode's mobile phone is being examined for digital evidence as no suicide note was found in his hostel room.
IIT Bombay denied viral social media claims that Director Kedare had resigned, calling the reports 'false'.
Professor Doolla was suspended from his position as Dean (Administrative Affairs) with immediate effect; further action awaits completion of the investigation.
IIT Bombay apologised for statements in its earlier communication that characterised events before they were established through investigation.
Mumbai Police on Monday, 21 September 2026, detained members of a student organisation and other demonstrators who had assembled outside IIT Bombay to stage a peaceful protest, demanding the resignation of institute Director Shireesh B. Kedare and the arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla in connection with the death of student Sahil Wakode. The detentions came even as the Mumbai Crime Branch took over the investigation into Wakode's death the same day.
Protests Outside IIT Bombay
Demonstrators gathered at the institute's gates, voicing sharp anger over the administration's response to Wakode's death. 'Four murders have happened so far! And the Director says that we will not accept the demands? The director himself is the murderer,' one protester told reporters. Police detained participants before the agitation could escalate, though no formal charges were immediately reported.
Crime Branch Takes Over Investigation
The Mumbai Crime Branch assumed charge of the probe into Wakode's death on Monday. Investigators are currently examining his mobile phone for any suicide note or other digital evidence, as no such note was found in his hostel room, according to reports. The shift to the Crime Branch signals a more intensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Director Denies Resignation, Professor Suspended
Several videos circulating on social media purportedly showed Director Kedare resigning — claims the institute flatly rejected. In a post on X, IIT Bombay stated: 'Director IIT-Bombay has NOT resigned. We categorically state that the related news is false.' Kedare confirmed, however, that Professor Doolla had been suspended from his position as Dean (Administrative Affairs) with immediate effect. Further disciplinary action against Doolla, the institute said, would follow the completion of the ongoing investigation.
IIT Bombay Apologises for Earlier Communication
In a separate post on X, IIT Bombay issued an apology for characterising details of events preceding Wakode's death in an earlier official communication. 'We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil,' the institute said. It acknowledged that it had been '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.'
What Happens Next
With the Crime Branch now leading the probe and the institute under mounting pressure from students and the public, the investigation into Wakode's death is expected to intensify. Further action against Professor Doolla remains contingent on the inquiry's findings, and protests are likely to continue if student demands — including the Director's resignation — remain unmet.
Point of View
Crime Branch takeover, fake-resignation videos, and an institutional apology all unfolding on the same day signals a crisis of credibility for IIT Bombay's administration. The apology for its earlier communication is significant — it suggests the institute rushed to shape the narrative around Wakode's death before facts were established, precisely the kind of institutional reflex that inflames student anger. Doolla's suspension from a single administrative role, while retaining his faculty position pending inquiry, may not satisfy protesters who see it as a partial concession. The deeper question — whether institutional pressure or neglect contributed to Wakode's death — is one the Crime Branch must now answer free from institutional interference.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sahil Wakode and why are students protesting at IIT Bombay?
Sahil Wakode was a student at IIT Bombay whose death has triggered protests on campus. Students and members of a student organisation gathered outside the institute demanding the resignation of Director Shireesh B. Kedare and the arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, holding the administration accountable for the incident.
Why were protesters detained outside IIT Bombay on 21 September?
Mumbai Police detained members of a student organisation and other demonstrators who had assembled outside IIT Bombay for a peaceful protest on 21 September 2026. The protesters were demanding Director Kedare's resignation and Professor Doolla's arrest in connection with student Sahil Wakode's death.
Has IIT Bombay Director Shireesh B. Kedare actually resigned?
No. IIT Bombay categorically denied viral social media reports and videos claiming that Director Kedare had resigned, stating the news was false. Kedare remains in his position as of 21 September 2026.
What action has been taken against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla?
Professor Doolla has been suspended from his role as Dean (Administrative Affairs) with immediate effect, according to Director Kedare. However, he has not been arrested and his faculty position remains intact pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
What is the current status of the investigation into Sahil Wakode's death?
The Mumbai Crime Branch took over the investigation on 21 September 2026. Investigators are examining Wakode's mobile phone for digital evidence, including any potential suicide note, as none was found in his hostel room. Further findings are expected as the probe progresses.
