Satara: The suicide of a 26-year-old woman doctor in Satara district has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra, after a four-page note recovered from her home detailed horrifying experiences of sexual assault, harassment, and systemic corruption allegedly involving police personnel and a sitting Member of Parliament.
The doctor, who was serving at the Phaltan sub-district hospital, was found dead earlier this week. Investigators say the note she left behind paints a grim picture of sustained abuse and intimidation she faced in both her personal and professional life.
According to police sources, the young medical officer accused Sub-Inspector Gopal Badane of raping her multiple times over several months. She also alleged that Prashant Bankar, a software engineer and her landlord’s son, subjected her to ongoing mental harassment.
In her note, the doctor wrote that she was pressured by several police officials—and even an MP and his aides—to issue fraudulent medical fitness certificates for individuals who had never appeared for examination. When she refused, she claimed, she was threatened and humiliated.
“She had repeatedly raised complaints with senior officers, including the SP and DSP, but her pleas went unheard,” said a relative of the deceased, who described her as a “bright, dedicated professional” preparing for her postgraduate entrance exams. “She had clearly written that if anything happened to her, those people should be held accountable.”
Investigators confirmed that shortly before her death, the doctor spoke with Bankar over the phone and exchanged messages with him. On her palm, police found a chilling message naming her alleged abuser.
Following her death, cases have been registered against both Badane and Bankar under charges of rape and abetment to suicide. Badane has been suspended pending investigation, officials said.
Inspector General (Kolhapur Range) Sunil Phulari stated that a special team has been formed to probe the allegations. “We are treating the suicide note as crucial evidence and verifying all claims, including the alleged role of political figures,” he said.
The incident has triggered a fierce political backlash. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar accused the state government of protecting the accused, saying, “When those meant to safeguard citizens turn perpetrators, where does justice go?”
Meanwhile, BJP leader Chitra Wagh called the episode “deeply tragic” and promised that no one would be spared if found guilty. She urged women to immediately report cases of abuse using the 112 helpline.
As the investigation unfolds, questions mount over how repeated complaints from the young doctor went unheeded. Her death has reignited conversations about the vulnerabilities faced by women in government service—particularly those working in remote or rural areas—and the urgent need for institutional accountability.
