Professor Suryanarayana Dulla has been sent on leave in the case of the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Vakhode. The decision has been taken in the wake of the ongoing investigation into the student's death. A case has been registered against Dulla on charges of abetment to suicide and caste discrimination.

Sahil Vakhode, a second-year B.Tech student in the Energy Science and Engineering department, was found hanging from the ceiling in his hostel room on the Powai campus on September 18. Earlier, the investigation revealed that he was sent out of the examination hall after being caught using a mobile phone during an interim examination. Dulla was an invigilator at the time. The Crime Branch is also examining the CCTV footage of the incident related to the examination.

The police are also focusing on what happened after Vakhode was caught with a mobile phone. However, the full details of what happened during the examination are still under investigation. Although it was initially reported that he used the AI ​​platform over the phone, IIT Bombay did not disclose full details on the matter.

On the other hand, Sahil's mother Sonali Vakode alleged that her son faced insults and harassment in the name of caste. She said that her son also mentioned the name of Dulla. These allegations are to be confirmed in the investigation. The Mumbai Crime Branch has already questioned Sahil's parents. Officials said that Dulla's statement will also be recorded.

Dulla has already been relieved of his duties as Dean (Administrative Affairs). The latest move to send him on leave has become another key development in the case. This development has taken place amid student demands for action against the professor. At the same time, some students and IIT faculty associations are demanding an impartial investigation into Dulla.