Maharashtra Doctor Suicide: Accused Sub-Inspector Surrenders Amid Rape, Harassment Allegations

The police are expected to seek remand for Badane to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the shocking sequence of events. (Representational Image)

Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Gopal Badane, accused in the sensational suicide case of a doctor attached to the Phaltan Sub-District Hospital in Maharashtra, has finally surrendered himself to the Phaltan Rural Police Station. Badane had been absconding since the tragic incident came to light, prompting a massive public outcry and political pressure for his immediate arrest.

The case involves the death by suicide of a 28-year-old medical officer, who was found dead in a hotel room in Phaltan. The case gained notoriety due to the explosive allegations contained in a suicide note written on her palm, which directly named PSI Badane and another individual, Prashant Bankar.

According to the deceased doctor’s final note, PSI Gopal Badane had allegedly raped her multiple times, while Bankar subjected her to mental and physical harassment over a period of several months. The Satara Police had already registered a case against both men under charges of rape and abetment to suicide. Prashant Bankar was arrested earlier by the police.

Beyond the severe allegations of sexual and mental abuse, the case has exposed a disturbing layer of corruption and professional coercion. Relatives of the deceased doctor have alleged that she was under intense “police and political pressure” to alter medical records, including post-mortem reports and fitness certificates for arrested accused individuals. Earlier this year, the doctor had reportedly written a complaint to senior police officers detailing pressure from various quarters to issue fake medical certificates.

The surrender of the suspended PSI Badane is a crucial development in the investigation, which has drawn condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who ordered immediate and stringent action. The ongoing probe now faces the challenge of thoroughly investigating the serious claims of sexual assault and the allegations of systemic pressure from police and political figures within the local administration, ensuring justice for the deceased doctor and addressing the deep-seated concerns over the safety and security of women doctors in the workplace. The police are expected to seek remand for Badane to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the shocking sequence of events.