IIT Bombay alumnus and activist Sudheendra Kulkarni has sought to withdraw the SC/ST Act case against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla.

Kulkarni’s remarks came days after IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, 22, died by suicide.

Wakode was a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. He was found hanging in his hostel room on September 18.

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Officials said Wakode was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination earlier that day.

IIT Bombay on Monday removed Doolla as Dean (Administrative Affairs) amid protests over Wakode’s death. A case of abetment of suicide and caste discrimination was registered against him.

The probe was transferred to the crime branch after an FIR was registered against Doolla by Powai police on charges of abetment to suicide and sections of the SC/ST Act.

In a social media post, Kulkarni said student suicides at IITs and other higher education institutions involved students from all castes and communities. The reasons behind such deaths, he said, vary.

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He said IITs must continue to improve campus life and reduce student stress. He also called for coaching and peer-support programmes for students from marginalised communities.

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