'Gopal Badne is the reason I died...': Maharashtra doctor dies by suicide; names cop in suicide note on palm

A 28-year-old medical officer who worked at a government hospital in Phaltan, Satara district, Maharashtra, died by suicide after alleging that she was raped by a police sub-inspector, in a suicide note. The death of the officer has resulted in a political row in the state, as she accused SI Gopal Badne of raping her four times over the course of five months.   

The medical officer was found dead in her hotel room, where she used to stay after her late-night duties. Her actual residence was far away. On Wednesday, she checked into the room and did not leave her room until Thursday evening. A hotel employee alerted the manager, who used a spare key to enter the room, Times of India reported.

The woman was found hanging from a ceiling fan.

Her family, who stay at Beed, was informed, and her father and cousin arrived in the district on Friday morning.

The suicide note

In the suicide note, written on her left palm, she alleged that she was raped and sexually harassed by Sub-inspector Gopal Badane multiple times over the course of five months. She also named another officer Prashant Banker, alleging that he mentally harassed her.

The note reads, “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,” She said she was “under extreme stress, hence, requested that the serious matter be investigated and appropriate action be taken against the guilty officers”.

Earlier complaints                                                      

The woman was approaching the end of her second 11-month contract term at the hospital, according to Satara Civil Surgeon Dr Yuvraj Karape.                            

Her uncle told reporters that she had filed a written complaint with superiors at the hospital alleging physical and mental harassment by the Phaltan police. She had named three officers, including Badne, in the complaint.

Dr. Karape said that an inquiry panel is being set up to investigate if the hospital superiors acted on her complaint.

According to the surgeon, police had complained that the victim was uncooperative about matters like conducting post-mortems at odd hours about five months ago. The police officers had said that she would keep them waiting for hours and often told them that late-night hours were not appropriate for postmortems. “We then explained that ours is a round-the-clock service, particularly for examinations,” he added.

Political leaders react

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to the Satara Superintendent of Police and ordered the immediate suspension of the police officers who were named in the note.

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said on a post on X, “When the protector becomes the predator! The duty of the police is to protect, but if they themselves are exploiting a female doctor, how will justice be served? Why was no action taken when this girl had previously lodged a complaint? The Mahayuti government repeatedly shields the police, which is leading to an increase in police atrocities”.

BJP Member of Legislative Council and State Women President Chitra Wagh said, “The incident is unfortunate. I have spoken to Satara Superintendent of Police. The process to register a First Information Report is underway. One of the accused is outside Satara, and a team has been formed to arrest him. Soon, the accused will be arrested.”

The woman’s body has been sent for a post-mortem and forensic analysis. The suicide note is also being tested to verify its authenticity.

Police teams have also been dispatched to locate and arrest the accused.