In a somber development, Maharashtra Police have stated that the life of a woman doctor, who died by suicide in Satara earlier this week, could potentially have been saved had her complaints been addressed with greater urgency. The doctor, who was found deceased in a hotel room, had named a police sub-inspector and another individual in a note written on her palm.
The 29-year-old doctor, a contractual medical officer at a government hospital in Phaltan, Satara, was discovered on Thursday night. Adding a layer of complexity to the investigation, reports have emerged of a four-page suicide letter penned by the deceased. This letter reportedly details allegations of pressure from police officials and, in one instance, from a Member of Parliament and his personal assistants, compelling her to issue fake fitness certificates for individuals involved in police cases. These claims, however, remain unverified by independent sources.
‘Had she told…’ The police perspective
Vaishali Kaduskar, Additional SP of Satara, expressed her distress over the incident, particularly as a woman in law enforcement. She conveyed that the doctor might still be alive if action had been taken sooner on her complaints or if she had confided in someone about the alleged atrocities she was facing. “As a female police officer, I am anguished and pained over this incident,” Kaduskar stated to the press.
Following these revelations, police have arrested one of the individuals named by the doctor in her palm note. The arrested man, Prashant Bankar, identified as the landlord’s son, is accused of physical and mental harassment over five months. The note also implicated Phaltan City police station sub-inspector Gopal Badane, accusing him of repeated rape.
The Four-Page Letter’s Accusations
The purported four-page suicide letter further elaborates on the alleged pressure exerted by a Member of Parliament and his two personal assistants. They are accused of pressuring the doctor to falsify fitness certificates for accused persons, even when these individuals were not brought in for medical examinations. The letter details instances of harassment by PSI Gopal Badane and others when she resisted these demands. One particular incident involved her being forced to speak with an MP after refusing to issue a certificate, during which she was allegedly threatened indirectly.
A cousin of the deceased doctor corroborated these claims, stating that the victim had been under significant pressure from both police and political figures after refusing to issue medically fit certificates to arrested individuals. She had reportedly attempted to report these issues to senior police officers, but to no avail. The cousin further revealed that the doctor had filed a complaint with the local Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in June-July, naming three police officials, including PSI Badane. However, a police official has contested this, stating that the June complaint was related to a different matter.
If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out to a mental health professional. Helplines are available: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050; Sanjivini: 011-24311918; Roshni Foundation (Secunderabad): 040-66202001, 040-66202000; ONE LIFE: 78930 78930; SEVA: 09441778290.