A deeply distressing incident has emerged from Maharashtra’s Satara district, where a 29-year-old doctor, employed at a government hospital, has tragically died by suicide. The doctor’s demise is reportedly linked to alleged rape by a sub-inspector of the Phaltan City police station, identified as Gopal Badane, and subsequent mental and physical harassment by another individual, Prashant Bankar, who is the son of her landlord. The alleged abuse had been ongoing for approximately four to five months.
The doctor’s body was discovered in a hotel room on Thursday night, October 23. A note found on her palm, written in Marathi, detailed the harrowing experiences she endured. It specifically alleged that she had been raped four times by Sub-Inspector Gopal Badane. Investigations revealed that the victim and the sub-inspector were distantly related and both hailed from the Beed district. The note also detailed the ongoing mental and physical torment inflicted by Prashant Bankar.
The victim, who was serving as a medical officer on a contractual basis, had reportedly refused to provide ‘medically fit’ certificates for individuals who had been arrested. This refusal, according to a cousin, led to immense pressure from police and political figures, including alleged pressure to falsify post-mortem reports and prepare ‘fit/unfit’ certificates without patient examination.
Following a complaint from the doctor’s family, an First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against both accused individuals, charging them with rape and abetment to suicide. The police have initiated a search operation to apprehend the absconding accused.
This grave case has ignited a political storm, with opposition parties criticizing the state government for failing to ensure women’s safety. In response to the escalating concerns, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the police to take strict action against those responsible.