Maharashtra doctor suicide: Sub-inspector, accused of rape, arrested; Fadnavis promises strict action

Maharashtra Police have made another arrest in connection with the alleged rape of a 29-year-old government doctor who died by suicide in Satara on Thursday.

 

Police sub-inspector Gopal Badne was arrested after he surrendered before Satara police on Saturday evening, hours after a co-accused had been nabbed. 

 

Prashant Banker, a software engineer, had been arrested by a team of Phaltan police from Pune in the morning.

 

Badne has already been suspended from service after his name came up during the probe. 

 

The doctor, hailing from Beed district and posted at a government hospital in Satara, was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan town on Thursday night. In a suicide note written on her palm, she alleged that Badne had raped her multiple times while Banker mentally harassed her.

 

“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 woman had said.

 

A case of rape and abetment of suicide has been registered against the duo. Banker, who was produced before a Satara district court on Saturday, has been sent to police custody for four days.

 

The woman’s uncle had earlier 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.

 

CM promises strict action

 

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said strict action would be taken against those who are found guilty in the suicide of the woman doctor.

 

"This is a very serious issue. A young doctor wrote her suicide note on her hand before committing suicide. It is very unfortunate, and the government, immediately taking action, has suspended the concerned police officials, and arrests are also being made," he told reporters.

 

The chief minister, however, added that politicising such a sensitive issue is “very insensitive”.

India