Satara (Maharashtra), Oct 25 (NationPress) A 26-year-old female doctor tragically took her own life in Maharashtra’s Satara district, leaving behind a poignant four-page suicide note along with a handwritten message on her palm. In her notes, she disclosed that a police officer had raped her four times and coerced her into issuing fraudulent medical fitness certificates for individuals involved in police cases. It has now come to light that she faced pressure not only from police personnel but also from a Member of Parliament (MP) and his aides.

The doctor, who served as a medical officer at the Phaltan sub-district hospital in Satara, detailed in her handwritten note that she endured mental and physical abuse for over five months at the hands of Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne, who is implicated in her repeated assaults.

Originally from Beed district, she had dedicated 23 months to her role at the hospital and was just one month away from fulfilling her bond for rural service when she made this heartbreaking decision.

In her suicide note, she revealed that law enforcement officials pressured her to create bogus fitness certificates for suspects, many of whom did not undergo medical examinations. When she resisted, she faced harassment from Sub-Inspector Badne and others.

She specifically stated, “The reason for my death is Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne, who raped me, and Prashant Bankar, who inflicted mental and physical torture on me for four months.”

Badne is a police officer, and Bankar is the son of her landlord. Despite lodging 21 complaints with various authorities, no action was taken against her abusers.

One incident she recounted involved her refusal to issue a medical certificate, during which two aides of the MP contacted her at the hospital, compelling her to converse with him over the phone. She noted that the MP made indirect threats during that call.

Her cousin corroborated her claims regarding the pressure to falsify medical certificates.

According to him, “She raised complaints on multiple occasions. Despite writing to the Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), there was no follow-up.”

He added, “In her letter, she questioned who would be accountable if something happened to her. She expressed concerns about security at the hospital, yet nothing was done. She even called the DSP, who promised to return her call, but no action was taken.”

Charges of rape and abetment to suicide have been filed against both Badne and Bankar, leading to the suspension of the police officer after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis acknowledged the case and instructed the Satara Superintendent of Police to pursue strict measures against the accused.

Inspector General of Police Sunil Phulari stated, “We are investigating based on the evidence collected so far. A case has been registered in Satara district, and the involved police officer has been suspended.”

The opposition criticized the Maharashtra government for allegedly protecting police officers involved in the case.

The Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) voiced that “the protector has turned into the predator.”

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar remarked, “The police's duty is to protect, but if they exploit a female doctor, how can justice prevail? Why was no action taken on her earlier complaints? The Mahayuti government continuously shields police misconduct, resulting in escalating police abuses.”

He further stated, “Merely initiating an inquiry is insufficient. The police officers allegedly responsible for driving the woman doctor to such an extreme measure must be dismissed to prevent them from influencing the investigation. Why were her previous complaints disregarded? Those who ignored it and protected these officers need to be held accountable. Until action is taken, police atrocities will persist.”

Former Leader of Opposition in the state council and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve condemned the state government over this incident.

“The accused in the Phaltan suicide case evade justice, and only then does the Chief Minister demand 'strict' action. The suicide of a daughter from Marathwada, who has faced struggles since birth, highlights the issue of protectors becoming predators. A woman dedicated to public service should not have to endure such mental harassment and meet such a tragic fate. We demand the establishment of an independent inquiry committee with officers from outside Satara district to ensure a thorough investigation,” he asserted.