Satara: A police sub-inspector accused of sexually assaulting a woman government doctor who later died by suicide has been taken into custody in Maharashtra’s Satara district, intensifying demands for accountability and justice.
Officials confirmed that Sub-Inspector Gopal Badane surrendered at the Phaltan Rural Police Station on Saturday evening. “He was placed under arrest immediately after surrendering,” said Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi.
Earlier the same day, a software engineer, Prashant Bankar, was detained in Pune after being named alongside Badane in the doctor’s suicide note. Bankar, accused of subjecting the victim to psychological harassment, has been remanded to police custody for four days.
Suicide Note Alleges Rape and Harassment
The 27-year-old doctor, who hailed from Beed district and was working at a government hospital in Satara, was found dead in a Phaltan hotel room late Thursday night. According to police, she had inscribed a message on her palm, accusing Badane of repeatedly raping her and blaming Bankar for mental torture.
Authorities have filed cases of rape and abetment to suicide against both accused. Badane was earlier suspended from duty after his name surfaced during the inquiry.
Allegations of Neglect and Pressure
Relatives of the deceased doctor, who was cremated in her native Wadwani village on Friday night, have demanded the death penalty for those responsible. They claim she had raised complaints about harassment on multiple occasions but received no protection.
One family member alleged that the young doctor was pressured by local political figures to alter medical and autopsy reports. “She faced immense pressure to manipulate findings in certain cases, but she refused to compromise her ethics,” the relative said.
Political Controversy
The case has quickly escalated into a political flashpoint. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve accused former BJP MP Ranjitsingh Naik Nimbalkar of having previously exerted pressure on the doctor — a claim Nimbalkar has dismissed as baseless. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Suresh Dhas has called for any politician involved to be added as a co-accused in the case.
A Promising Career Cut Short
Family members described the victim as a dedicated and ambitious doctor who was preparing for her MD entrance exams. She had taken an education loan of ₹3 lakh, which remained unpaid. “She was determined to specialize and make her parents proud,” said her uncle, a schoolteacher.
Two of her cousins, also doctors, alleged that she was deliberately assigned only post-mortem work at her hospital — an unusual decision they believe was meant to trouble her.
A letter the doctor had previously submitted to authorities indicated she was facing intimidation from police personnel and taunts regarding her Beed roots.
As investigations continue, the case has reignited debate over workplace harassment, abuse of power, and systemic failure to protect women professionals in Maharashtra’s public sector.
