Ananthan Ayyasamy, founder and CEO of Tensemi, has voiced strong opposition to charges filed against IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Ayyasamy, who also serves as BJP's Tenkasi district president, publicly called for the case's withdrawal, stating his belief that the Act is being "weaponized."
A Tech CEO's Personal Stand
In a detailed public statement, Ayyasamy highlighted his personal background, revealing he belongs to the Devendra Kula Vellalar (DKV) community, classified as a Scheduled Caste. He recounted growing up in severe rural poverty and witnessing the struggles of his community firsthand. Despite these challenges, he pursued education with support from diverse communities, studying Electronics at NIT Tiruchirappalli before a distinguished career at C-DOT Bengaluru and Intel, where he rose to Engineering Director and Senior Silicon Architect, holding multiple patents.
"I share this to make clear that I know what it means to come from an SC community and rise through hard work and commitment," Ayyasamy stated, emphasizing his perspective on the Act's intended purpose versus its current application.
Community Opposition to Act's Misuse
Ayyasamy further explained that his DKV community has adopted a "principled, voluntary stand" against filing cases under the SC/ST Act. He elaborated, "We have seen how cases under this Act are weaponized, and how that deepens enmity on the ground. On that basis, I oppose the misuse of this Act in this case. The case against Prof. Doolla must be withdrawn."
His stance has garnered support from other prominent figures, including Zoho founder and chief scientist Sridhar Vembu, who expressed deep respect for Ayyasamy's "principled stand" and agreed that Professor Doolla "should not be subject to this."
Context of the Case: Student's Death and Allegations
Professor Doolla was named as an accused following the death of 22-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode. Wakode, a second-year BTech student, was found dead in his hostel room after allegedly being caught using a mobile phone and ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination. IIT Bombay reported that he supposedly uploaded the exam paper to ChatGPT for answers.
Wakode's parents subsequently filed a complaint, alleging institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination against their son prior to his death. Based on this complaint, Powai police registered a case under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, with Professor Doolla being named. The investigation has since been transferred to the Crime Branch.
IIT Bombay, however, has denied all allegations of caste discrimination and stated that no disciplinary action had been initiated against Wakode following the examination incident. As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing.