Satara, Maharashtra: A shocking case has emerged from Maharashtra where a woman doctor allegedly died by suicide at a district hospital in Satara on Thursday night, leaving a suicide note naming a police sub-inspector (SI) who she accused of repeated sexual assault and harassment.
The victim, a Medical Officer at Phaltan sub-district hospital, reportedly wrote the suicide note directly on her left palm before taking the extreme step. The note explicitly accused SI Gopal Badne of physical and mental abuse, stating his actions forced her to end her life.
“Police inspector Gopal Badne is the reason I died. He raped me four times. He subjected me to rape, mental and physical abuse for more than five months,” the note revealed.
SI Gopal Badne has been suspended following the incident, reportedly on the direct orders of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Prior Complaint and Political Outcry
Crucially, the doctor had raised similar allegations months earlier. On June 19, she addressed a letter to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of the Sub-Divisional Office, Phaltan, accusing Badne, Sub-Divisional Police Inspector Patil, and Assistant Police Inspector Ladputre of harassment. She had sought legal action, citing “extreme stress” due to the serious matter.
The suicide has triggered a massive political row across Maharashtra. State Congress leader Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar lashed out at the ruling Mahayuti government, questioning why no action was taken on her initial complaint. “When the protector becomes the predator! Merely ordering an inquiry in this case is not enough. These police officers should be sacked from their jobs, otherwise, they could exert pressure on the investigation,” Wadettiwar posted on X.
BJP MLC and State Women President Chitra Wagh assured the public of a thorough probe, confirming that the process to register an FIR is underway and a team has been formed to arrest the main accused. The NCP, also part of the ruling alliance, called for the strictest action under the zero-tolerance policy towards atrocities against women.
The Maharashtra State Commission for Women has also intervened, directing the Satara Superintendent of Police to urgently search for the absconding accused and investigate the alleged inaction on the doctor’s previous complaint.
