The nation is in shock following the suicide of a young woman doctor in Satara, Maharashtra. The 29-year-old had previously accused a police officer of rape, but investigations by Hindustan Times have uncovered a more intricate situation involving a protracted conflict between the doctor and local law enforcement.
Documents obtained by Hindustan Times indicate that the doctor, stationed at Phaltan Sub-District Hospital, had lodged multiple complaints against several police officers. Concurrently, the police filed counter-complaints against her.
The doctor tragically died by suicide at a hotel in Phaltan. A note found on her hand during the investigation detailed allegations of rape and harassment. She also claimed to have faced pressure from a Member of Parliament (MP) to manipulate medical reports, with threats accompanying her refusals.
Key Revelations from Documents
In a detailed four-page statement provided to an investigative committee in August 2025, the doctor described instances of alleged harassment. She ominously stated, “if anything happens to me, the police will be responsible.”
The core of the dispute appears to have been the alleged pressure on the doctor to alter fitness certificates and post-mortem reports, reportedly to aid the police in taking accused individuals into custody.
Her initial complaint, dated June 19, 2025, named police sub-inspector (PSI) Gopal Badane, whom she accused of rape. She also alleged she was pressured to issue fitness certificates for accused persons. When her complaint received no satisfactory response, she filed an RTI application on August 13 seeking details on the actions taken.
Meanwhile, in July, Phaltan police filed a complaint with the Satara Civil Surgeon, accusing the doctor of intentionally issuing “not fit” certificates for accused individuals, thereby delaying arrests.
Allegations of Political Interference
The Satara Civil Surgeon established a two-member committee to investigate the matter. In her statement to the committee, the doctor not only reiterated her accusations against the police but also detailed alleged political pressure.
She stated that the personal assistant of an MP had contacted her, suggesting her actions were biased because she was from Beed district. The MP was not named.
According to her statement, on July 31, 2025, when police brought an accused with high blood pressure for examination, the doctor wanted to admit him for treatment. However, the police insisted on his immediate return. Shortly after, two PAs representing the MP contacted her and connected her to the MP via phone, who allegedly reprimanded her for not complying with the police’s requests regarding certificates.
Police Response
The doctor claimed that PSI Gopal Badane had once entered the emergency ward and threatened her. Her complaints to senior doctors, including Dr. Anshuman Dhumal, went unaddressed, though Dr. Dhumal has denied the allegations.
A senior Satara police official told HT that the doctor was often “reluctant to conduct pre-arrest medical examinations at night” and frequently declared individuals unfit “without sufficient grounds.” This led to police having to station personnel at the hospital, disrupting the arrest and custodial process. The official also mentioned that the doctor had refused to be available 24/7, prompting the police to request a replacement.
Civil Surgeon Dr. Yuvraj Karpe commented, “Yes, there were allegations by the police, so a two-member committee was formed. After hearing both parties in August 2025, we reminded the doctor that medical officers must be available 24×7. We noticed a drastic change in her behaviour thereafter.”
Both the doctor’s complaints and the police allegations are currently part of the ongoing investigation into her death.
(With inputs from Shrinivas Deshpande)