A Maharashtra woman doctor has revealed in her suicide note that a police officer raped her four times and subjected her to mental and physical abuse over several months, exposing shocking allegations of harassment and police atrocities.
A woman doctor in Maharashtra’s Satara, who was reportedly raped four times by a police sub-inspector (SI) over five months, died by suicide at a district hospital on Thursday night.
In a note on her left palm, the victim accused SI Gopal Badne of physical and mental abuse, stating that his relentless harassment led her to take her own life. Badne has since been suspended.
The note read,
“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 doctor, employed as a medical officer at Phaltan sub-district hospital, had previously raised similar allegations in a letter to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at the Sub-Divisional Office in Phaltan on June 19.
In her letter to the DSP, she accused three officers from the Phaltan Rural Police Department of harassment and requested legal action against them. She named Badne, Sub-Divisional Police Inspector Patil, and Assistant Police Inspector Ladputre, expressing that she was “under extreme stress,” and urged for a thorough investigation and appropriate action against the guilty officers.
Sources indicate that Badne’s suspension was ordered by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The suicide has sparked a political controversy in the state. State Congress leader Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar criticized the ruling Mahayuti government in light of the suicide note.
He stated in 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,”
He added,
“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. Why was her earlier complaint not taken seriously? Those who ignored it and those who shielded these police officers should face action. Until action is taken against the police, police atrocities will not be curbed,”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), part of the ruling Mahayuti, pledged a thorough investigation into the doctor’s suicide.
BJP Member of Legislative Council and State Women President Chitra Wagh stated,
“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,”
She added,
“It has also come to our notice that the doctor had raised a complaint, but no action was taken. Everything will be investigated in the case… I want to appeal to all women that there is no need to take such an extreme step… Our government is ready to help. The 112 helpline should be used to register such complaints and action will be taken,”
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), also part of the ruling alliance alongside the Shiv Sena, called for strict measures against the accused.
NCP leader Anand Paranjape remarked,
“It is an unfortunate incident. Teams have been sent to arrest the accused. Strictest action should be taken as there is zero tolerance policy towards atrocities against women,”
The Maharashtra State Commission for Women has also taken note of the incident, directing the police to investigate the alleged inaction regarding the doctor’s complaint.
It stated in a series of posts on X,
“The body of the deceased doctor has been sent to the hospital for autopsy. The commission has instructed the Superintendent of Police, Satara, to urgently search for the absconding accused and conduct a thorough investigation of the entire case,”