IIT Bombay announced the suspension of Professor Suryanarayan Dulla from his position as Dean on Wednesday, in connection with the death of 22-year-old BTech student Sahil Vakode. The institute also issued a public apology for comments it had made prematurely while the probe was still ongoing.
Sahil Vakode, a second-year student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room at the Powai campus on the night of September 18. Local police registered a case and began investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Professor Dulla had previously stated that Sahil had been caught copying during an examination, and that the incident may have led to the student's distress. The institute clarified that these early statements were made before the completion of the official inquiry and acknowledged that speculating about events preceding Sahil's death was inappropriate at that stage.
In its apology, IIT Bombay stated that no conclusions should be drawn before the investigation is finalized and expressed regret for any distress caused by its earlier communications. The institute has constituted an inquiry committee to examine the full sequence of events leading to the student's death.
This tragedy marks another grim chapter in the long-standing issue of mental health and academic pressure within India's premier technical institutions. According to available records spanning two decades, approximately 160 students across various IITs have died by suicide, sparking repeated debates about the mental well-being infrastructure, counseling services, and high-pressure academic culture prevalent in these campuses.
Student groups and alumni have called for stronger mental health support systems, regular wellbeing checks, and greater transparency in how such cases are investigated and addressed. IIT Bombay has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a thorough probe and ensuring accountability.
