On Monday, student representatives from IIT Bombay issued a statement clarifying that their protest after the September 18 suicide of 20‑year‑old Sahil Wakode was aimed at systemic reforms rather than condoning academic misconduct.
Their demands, compiled over the past week, were formally presented to Director S. K. Srivastava; he signed off on them and committed to enforce changes within the next 90 days, a move that followed an open‑house forum where students voiced concerns directly.
Among the demands was the request that Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, dean of administrative affairs, be relieved of his duties pending the ongoing investigation, a stance the students say they uphold while insisting the probe remain impartial.
The statement also emphasized that the tragedy should remain student‑led, warning external bodies from steering narratives, and highlighted a resident student who lost a brother, underscoring the personal cost of institutional gaps.
With the director’s agreement, the institute will now work towards implementing the reforms, and students expect a review meeting in early October to assess progress.