A tragic incident has unfolded in Satara, Maharashtra, where a 29-year-old doctor, working at a government hospital on a contractual basis, has died by suicide. Her death has sent shockwaves through the community, as she has accused a local sub-inspector of repeated rape and another man of prolonged mental and physical harassment over several months.
Police officials confirmed that the doctor was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan town on Thursday night. Prior to her death, she reportedly wrote a note on her palm in Marathi, detailing the alleged assault by Phaltan City police station sub-inspector Gopal Badane and the harassment by her landlord’s son, Prashant Bankar.
An investigation has revealed that the victim and the suspended sub-inspector hail from Beed and were reportedly relatives. Following a complaint lodged by the victim’s family, an First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against PSI Badane and Prashant Bankar under charges of rape and abetment to suicide. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination, and two special teams have been formed to apprehend the absconding accused. The PSI involved has been suspended.
A relative of the deceased doctor voiced concerns, suggesting that she had been under immense pressure from both police and political figures. This pressure allegedly stemmed from her refusal to issue “medically fit” certificates to certain arrested individuals and to falsify post-mortem reports. Despite attempts to report these issues to senior officers, no action was taken. The family also claims she was pressured to prepare patient reports without actual hospital visits.
In response to the gravity of the situation, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Superintendent of Police, Tushar Doshi, to take strict action against the accused and initiate departmental inquiries against any police personnel found complicit. The Civil Surgeon of Satara has announced the formation of a three-member committee to conduct an internal inquiry, while the National Commission for Women (NCW) has requested an action-taken report from the police within five days.