A day after IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla was interrogated by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch for around eight hours, institute director Shireesh B Kedare was questioned for nearly 10 hours on Friday in connection with the suicide of the 22-year-old student on campus last month. Kedare has been named by the student’s father, Ravindra Wakode, in his police complaint alleging caste-based abuse and harassment.
“Doolla has been already sent on leave by IIT-Bombay to facilitate an impartial probe. Police have also seized his mobile phone to examine his online activities and conversations. The pattern-locked iPhone could not be opened and has been sent to the forensic science laboratory. When he stopped answering her calls, she contacted his friends, who went to check on him and found him hanging in his hostel room.
The Crime Branch has so far recorded statements of around 40 people, including the student’s friends, hostel staff and other institute employees. Following Wakode’s complaint, Powai police registered an FIR against Doolla and other IIT-Bombay officials under Section 108 (abetment to suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) and 3(5) of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
He was also removed as the dean of Administrative Affairs at the institute after he was named in the FIR registered at Powai police station,” the officer said. Police said both Doolla and Kedare have denied the allegations of caste-based discrimination and harassment and maintained that they followed the stipulated procedure after the student was allegedly caught copying. “We will decide about the further course of action after examining all relevant aspects,” the officer said. Police said the student had spoken to a female friend and regretted copying after he was allegedly caught during the examination.
The Wakode family has demanded Doolla’s immediate arrest, alleging that he was responsible for the untimely death of their son.
Meanwhile, IIT-Bombay students protesting on campus for the past 15 days began a two-day hunger strike at Justice Corner on Friday, demanding action from the institute. They have sought Doolla’s immediate suspension from all responsibilities until the criminal investigation concludes and demanded that the institute’s existing investigation committee be dissolved and replaced with an independent panel.
