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Mumbai’s Crime Branch questioned IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla on 2 October 2026 and recorded his statement in the investigation into student Sahil Wakode’s death. Reports put the questioning at roughly eight to ten hours; the investigation was still ongoing in coverage published on 3 October.
Why did police question Professor Doolla?
Wakode, reported by Press Trust of India (PTI) via Careers360 to be 22, was found dead in his hostel room on 18 September 2026. News reports say an examination incident earlier that day is part of the background investigators are examining: Wakode was allegedly caught using a phone during a mid-semester exam. Some coverage says the phone was allegedly used to access ChatGPT. That is a reported claim, not an independently established finding in the available reporting.
After Wakode’s death, his parents complained to police, alleging that Doolla had harassed him and discriminated against him on caste grounds. PTI/Careers360 reported that Powai police registered an FIR on the father’s complaint, including provisions under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and relating to abetment of suicide. The complaint and FIR were not available for direct review, so those details are attributable to the news report.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The reported sequence does not establish that the exam incident or any particular person’s conduct caused Wakode’s death. That question remains for the investigations to address.
What happened during the questioning?
The Crime Branch questioned Doolla on 2 October and recorded his statement. Reports differed on the length of the session: Hindustan Times and PTI described it as around or nearly 10 hours, while The Times of India reported nearly eight hours. Taken together, the published estimates indicate roughly eight to ten hours; they do not establish a more precise duration.
Hindustan Times attributed this account to an unnamed senior Crime Branch officer: “We have questioned Professor Doolla for 10 hours and even recorded his statement.” No arrest or finding of guilt was reported in the coverage. Doolla reportedly denied the allegations during questioning, according to PTI/Careers360 and other reports.
What is alleged, and what is established so far?
| Issue | What the reporting says | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Family’s complaint | Wakode’s parents allege harassment and caste-based discrimination by Doolla. | An allegation reported by Hindustan Times, PTI/Careers360 and The Times of India; not a finding of fact. |
| Doolla’s response | Doolla reportedly denied the charges during police questioning. | A response attributed to news reports; no firsthand statement from Doolla was available in the coverage consulted. |
| Police action | The Crime Branch questioned Doolla, recorded his statement and was reported to have collected about 40 statements from people including students, friends, family and institute or hostel staff. | Investigative steps reported by Hindustan Times and PTI as of 3 October 2026; not a conclusion about responsibility. |
| Exam incident | Reports describe alleged phone use during a mid-semester examination on 18 September; some say the phone was allegedly used to access ChatGPT. | A reported line of inquiry, not an independently verified finding or a proven cause of the death. |
What other inquiries are under way?
Police investigation
Hindustan Times and PTI reported that investigators had recorded statements from about 40 people. Hindustan Times also said police were having difficulty unlocking Wakode’s iPhone and had sent it for forensic examination. The outcome of that examination was not reported in the coverage published by 3 October.
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IIT Bombay committee
PTI/Careers360 reported that IIT Bombay’s board had constituted a 10-member inquiry committee. News reports also said Doolla had been removed from the Dean of Student Affairs role or sent on leave to facilitate an impartial inquiry, while remaining a professor. These institutional details were reported by media outlets; no IIT Bombay notice was available for direct confirmation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains unknown?
- Whether police will take further action after reviewing the statements and forensic material.
- What the phone examination or the institute committee will conclude.
- Whether the allegations are substantiated and whether any conduct contributed to Wakode’s death.
As of the reports published on 3 October 2026, neither a final police finding nor a final institutional finding had been reported. The available accounts are news reports, including a PTI story syndicated by Careers360, rather than police records, the FIR or an official IIT Bombay statement.
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