A complaint has been filed with the Mumbai Police against lawyer Navneet, OCI card-holding German citizen and senior advocate Mihir Desai, IIT Bombay Humanities Department professor Suryakant Waghmore, students Huma Namal and Amarkant Thakur, and others under relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the National Security Act (NSA) and the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, as reported in OpIndia.
The complaint relates to the ongoing controversy surrounding the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode. The development was disclosed by the Legal Rights Observatory (LRO).
#IITBombay Complaint filed at @CPMumbaiPolice @MumbaiPolice against Adv Navneet (alleged German citizen), Sr Adv Mihir Desai, @iitbombay Humanities Dept Prof @Suryakant_Waghm, students Huma Namal, Amar Kant Thakur and others under relevant sections of UAPA, NSA and Maharashtra… pic.twitter.com/IhVFvxYcOr
— Legal Rights Observatory- LRO (@LegalLro) September 22, 2026
According to LRO, the complaint was filed over allegations of “spreading fake news aimed at fueling caste-based riots, provocative social media posts to trigger violence and create social unrest and conspiracy to divide society on caste lines.”
The complaint comes amid allegations and counter-allegations surrounding Wakode’s death and claims made by his family against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla.
Allegations Against Lawyer And Activists
LRO has alleged that senior advocate Mihir Desai is associated with the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) and Socio-Legal Information Centre (SLIC), and claimed that the NGO is funded by the German Catholic Church NGO Misereor.
The social media account referred to by LRO stated that Desai is behind the HRLN-SLIC NGO, “which is funded by the German Catholic Church NGO Miserior, which had legally defended 2020 Delhi Riot accused, including rioters who killed Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma.”
LRO further alleged that lawyer Navneet works at Desai’s chamber.
According to the organisation, Navneet was present at the hospital where Wakode’s parents and relatives were present following his death. LRO alleged that she was inciting the family to file a formal complaint under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla.
Mumbai Crime Branch Inquiry Has Not Found Hard Evidence Against Professor, Sources Say
The allegations come as the Mumbai Crime Branch is conducting a preliminary inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death.
According to Mumbai Police sources cited in the matter, the preliminary inquiry has not yet uncovered any hard evidence against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla in connection with allegations of abetment to suicide.
The authorities are examining several aspects of the case, the sources said.
The sources also said that authorities have not found any material or eyewitnesses capable of verifying or substantiating allegations that casteist slurs were directed at Wakode, a second-year B.Tech student.
The allegations of caste-based abuse were made by Wakode’s family.
CCTV Footage Supports Professor’s Account Of Examination Room Incident
Meanwhile, Doolla’s account of what transpired inside the examination room, including his assertion that Wakode was using a mobile phone, is reportedly supported by CCTV footage.
According to the authorities, CCTV footage shows Wakode appearing to look down at something suspiciously, following which he was asked to leave the examination room.
This is CCTV footage from IIT Bombay in which Sahil is seen taking the exam. Later, Professor Dulla is seen approaching him, and after some conversation, he is seen handing over the mobile phone that was kept between his legs.
Then he is sent out.#IITBombay pic.twitter.com/mujHYMgcSK
— Common Sensei (@TheQuietSensei) September 23, 2026
Doolla then took Wakode to a separate room, where another professor and the department director were present.
Additional CCTV cameras installed at various locations across the campus also reportedly captured Wakode leaving and subsequently returning to his room in the campus dormitory.
The three professors involved in the incident have been questioned by the authorities, and their statements have been recorded.
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