Maharashtra doctor suicide case: Landlord's son arrested; 4-page suicide note found

Police have made their first arrest in the suicide case of the doctor who committed suicide in a hotel in Phaltan, Satara, Maharashtra. Prashant, the doctor's landlord's son, has been detained. Prashant Banker has been charged with rape and abetment to suicide.

The doctor committed suicide on October 23rd. In a handwritten note, she accused software engineer Prashant Banker of mental harassment.

The name of Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne was also written on her palm. It is alleged that Badne raped the doctor four times in the past five months. Badne was also pressuring her to prepare fake fitness certificates for the accused.

The doctor wrote: Two PAs of the MP visited the hospital.

A case has also been filed against Gopal Badne for rape and abetment to suicide. CM Devendra Fadnavis has ordered the Satara SP to suspend the accused sub-inspector. The female doctor was a resident of Beed district and worked at the government hospital in Phaltan tehsil.

Police have recovered another four-page suicide note, which names an MP and his two PAs. It is alleged that these individuals were pressuring the doctor to issue fake fitness certificates for the accused. When he refused, the MP called the female doctor.

The doctor wrote in the suicide note that two personal assistants of the MP had come to the hospital and pressured him to issue fake fitness certificates for the accused in other cases. They also insisted on issuing fitness certificates for those who had not come to the hospital. When he refused, they arranged a phone call with the MP.

Relatives claim: Pressure to alter the postmortem report

The doctor's relative said he was being pressured to alter the postmortem report and tamper with the medical reports of the arrested accused.

The doctor's cousin said he had complained to the Satara SP and DSP about the matter, but no action was taken. He wrote in the letter, "Who will take responsibility if anything happens to him?"

Another relative said:

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She was under work stress and harassed by her seniors. She had previously complained to her senior doctors about this matter and the problems she was facing with the police. She complained about the mistreatment she was receiving. She even threatened to commit suicide if her pleas were not heard.

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Hotel staff opened the door with a different key

SP Doshi said that the doctor had booked a room in a hotel in Phaltan. When the staff knocked on the door, there was no response. Suspicious, they opened the door with a different key and found her hanging. The body has been sent for a postmortem.

Who said what in the doctor's suicide case...

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that law and order has deteriorated in the state. Meanwhile, Women's Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar has directed the police to take strict action.
Minister Pankaja Munde said that there should be no media trial in this case; the investigation should be conducted impartially and on a forensic basis. Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare demanded an independent SIT investigation.

BJP leader Chitra Wagh called the incident unfortunate and said a thorough investigation would be conducted. The government is ready to provide all possible assistance. All women are urged to immediately file a complaint on the 112 helpline in such situations.
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar accused the BJP-led Mahayuti government of shielding the police. He also asked, "Who will provide justice when the protector becomes the predator? The doctor had complained earlier, so why was no action taken?"
NCP leader Anand Paranjape said that what happened in Satara is very unfortunate. A female doctor's suicide is not good for the state, and the police administration has filed an FIR. The case should be heard in a fast-track court.