24,000+ Sign Petition in Support of IIT Bombay Professor Doolla, Calling for Fairness and Evidence-Based Action

New Delhi/Mumbai, September 23, 2026: More than 24,000 people have signed a petition initiated by Er. Subodh Gupta of Delhi in support of Prof. Doolla of IIT Bombay, calling for fairness, due process and an evidence-based examination of the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of student Sahil.

The petition has attracted support from several distinguished professionals from India’s engineering and industrial sectors, including former Directors, Managing Directors and senior retired engineering professionals with decades of experience in public and private industry.

Among the eminent engineers who have signed the petition are Mr. Praveen Shrivastav, Mr. Umesh Mathur, Mr. A. H. Saifee, Mr. Ramesh Dabrai and Mr. V. K. Agrawal.

The signatories have expressed deep sympathy for Sahil and his family while stressing that sympathy for a tragic loss and determination of individual responsibility are two separate matters.

The petition asks a fundamental question: Can a professor be penalised, publicly condemned or have his professional reputation damaged without credible evidence establishing wrongdoing?

It further stresses the importance of the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” and cautions against allowing public pressure or mob sentiment to substitute for a fair institutional inquiry.

The signatories also believe that the circumstances leading to such tragedies require a broader examination of the pressures faced by students and the respective responsibilities of students, parents, educational institutions and society. Attributing responsibility to a particular individual without establishing evidence, they contend, would undermine principles of natural justice.

The engineering professionals supporting the petition have appealed to the concerned authorities to ensure that any action against Prof. Doolla is based on verified facts, evidence and established procedures—not public pressure.

They have also called for an impartial examination of the entire matter, including the factors surrounding Sahil’s tragic death, so that justice is served without compromising fairness to any individual.

“Compassion for the bereaved family must go hand in hand with fairness, evidence and due process.”