In a post on X, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised the decision to target professors for the campus protest over a student’s death—calling it a band‑aid solution.
On September 25, IIT Bombay Director Shireesh B. Kedare ordered the immediate suspension of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, whose role in reporting alleged exam cheating had sparked campus unrest.
The institute also issued a formal apology, retracting earlier claims that the student had been caught cheating and acknowledging that premature statements had mischaracterised the incident. “We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Sahil,” the statement read.
Authorities have yet to conclude the investigation; it will now be conducted by the Maharashtra Police under a pending report. Director Kedare clarified that he remains in his position and is not resigning.
Chaturvedi warned that removing professors is a “band‑aid” solution, urging the university to address underlying mental‑health and campus‑environment issues. She added that the focus on faculty who were merely doing their job of reporting cheating should not be framed as caste discrimination.
One of Sahil Wakode’s classmates said the campus felt unsafe after the incident, citing increased stress and a sense that the university had not provided enough support for students.