Woman Doctor's Suicide in Maharashtra Reveals Complex History of Allegations Between Police and Medical Officer

Mumbai:

The 26-year-old woman doctor who committed suicide after alleging rape by a police officer in Maharashtra's Satara had previously been complained about for obstructing investigations, NDTV has discovered. Police had sent a formal complaint to the district surgeon last month, describing her "troublesome" and "uncooperative" behavior.

The doctor, who worked as a medical officer at Phaltan sub-district hospital in Satara, took her own life on Thursday night. She left a note written on her left palm accusing sub-inspector Gopal Badne of mental and physical abuse. Badne has been suspended and is currently evading authorities.

Additionally, she wrote a four-page note claiming that Badne and other officers pressured her to issue fraudulent fitness certificates for accused individuals and harassed her when she refused.

The police complaint to the district surgeon, dated September 22, alleged that the doctor impeded medical examinations of suspects in serious crimes, potentially allowing criminals to escape justice due to her conduct. Police Inspector Sunil Mahadik from Phaltan Rural Police Station reported that she was uncooperative and frequently engaged in arguments with officers.

The complaint referenced an incident from May 30 when the doctor allegedly refused to perform pre-arrest medical check-ups for two suspects brought to the hospital late at night. She had accused police of deliberately harassing her by delaying check-ups until nighttime, despite being informed that arrests couldn't proceed without medical examination.

Police further alleged she would declare some suspects unfit and have them hospitalized, preventing arrests and requiring police to assign guards. During the May 30 incident, she declared suspects unfit, but they were determined to be fit the following day.

In another incident, police claimed she expressed a desire to create difficulties for them.

On June 19, the doctor had made similar allegations against the police. In correspondence to the Deputy Superintendent of Police, she accused two officers of harassment and requested legal action against them.

She had reportedly attempted to pressure a police inspector after being named in a complaint, stating, "I am now putting my life at risk," while also raising allegations related to caste and gender.

In their complaint to the district surgeon, police requested immediate action against her and recommended she not be assigned to conduct medical examinations of any suspects. The district surgeon's office ordered an investigation into these allegations.

The doctor ended her life at the district hospital on Thursday. In her palm note, she blamed Badne for driving her to suicide, writing: "He subjected me to rape, mental and physical abuse for more than five months."

She also accused Prashant Bankar, her landlady's son, of mental harassment. Bankar has been arrested.

NDTV previously reported on allegations in the doctor's four-page suicide note. In one instance, she claimed officers made her speak with an MP over the phone and was indirectly threatened for refusing to issue a "fake" fitness certificate.

Her cousin made similar allegations: "In her letter, she asked that if anything happened to her, who would be responsible for it? She also flagged the lack of security at the premises, but nothing happened."

Helplines

Vandrevala Foundation for Mental Health

9999666555 or help@vandrevalafoundation.com

TISS iCall

022-25521111 (Monday-Saturday: 8 am to 10 pm)

(If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist.)