In a distressing turn of events, the Satara police have informed a local court of their intention to investigate all four alleged rape incidents mentioned in the suicide note left by a government medical officer in Phaltan, Satara district. The note, found inscribed on the doctor’s palm, implicates Police Sub-Inspector Gopal Badane, who has since been suspended.
Badane was presented before the court on Sunday and has been remanded to police custody until October 30. He had been evading arrest since the case was registered, reportedly moving between Phaltan, Pandharpur, Solapur, and Beed, and keeping his phone switched off. He surrendered on Saturday night after being informed by relatives about potential dismissal if he continued to abscond.
During the court proceedings, police requested Badane’s custody to verify the rape allegations, recover his mobile phone and vehicle, and establish the sequence of events. According to sources, Badane reportedly confessed and denied the allegations during initial questioning.
However, his defense lawyer, Rahul Dhyagude, contested the allegations, describing them as “vague and baseless” and questioning the authenticity of the suicide note. He argued that a single day of custody should have been sufficient for verification.
Conversely, the public prosecutor emphasized that the suicide note could be treated as a dying declaration, possessing significant evidentiary value in the case, citing legal precedents.