New Delhi: The alleged suicide of a 28-year-old woman doctor in Satara has triggered widespread outrage across Maharashtra, with political leaders, medical associations and women's rights bodies demanding an impartial probe into claims that she was repeatedly raped and harassed by a police officer, and that her earlier complaints were ignored.

The doctor, posted at the government-run sub-district hospital in Phaltan, was found hanging in a hotel room late on Thursday (October 23). A note scrawled on her palm named sub-inspector Gopal Badane and her landlord's son, Prashant Bankar, accusing them of sexual assault and mental harassment, according to media reports.

Police have registered a case of rape and abetment to suicide against the two, both of whom remain absconding. The sub-inspector has been suspended.

“A case has been registered against them under charges of rape and abetment to suicide. Our teams are trying to locate the accused. A thorough probe and stringent action will be taken,” India Today quoted Satara superintendent of police Tushar Doshi as saying.

Reports suggest the doctor had been under pressure from police and political figures to falsify post-mortem reports. According to her relatives, she had complained about the pressure multiple times, but no action followed.

“There was a lot of police and political pressure on her to make wrong post-mortem reports. She had complained about it multiple times, but it was not taken seriously. The accused should get the strictest punishment, and my sister should get justice,” a cousin said, as per The Hindu.

PTI reported citing the doctor's purported statement to an internal committee, which was shared by a social activist, that she had complained in writing to the deputy superintendent of police in June alleging harassment and intimidation by police officials, but the complaint went unheeded.

She had reportedly told the internal committee that officers were coercing her to alter medical reports over crimes in her home district of Beed.

According to the PTI report, one incident reportedly involved police attempting to force her to declare a high-blood-pressure patient fit for custody, allowing them to take the person away without treatment.

Minister of state for health Meghna Bordikar said that she spoke to the Satara civil surgeon and was informed that the doctor had never complained about facing any harassment.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, directed the Satara police to suspend the officer named in the note and take strict action against all those accused. The Hindu reported that his office stated he had “emphasised zero tolerance for such crimes within law enforcement”.

The Maharashtra State Commission for Women has taken cognisance of the case and sought an explanation from police on why no help was provided despite the woman's earlier complaints.

“If she had given any previous complaint about the torture faced by her, an inquiry should be conducted on why she did not get help, and strict action should be taken against those responsible,” Commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar said.

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) (Central MARD) has announced a statewide black ribbon protest on Saturday, demanding immediate arrest of the accused and an independent inquiry by the CID or a special investigation team (SIT).

“Despite directives from the chief minister, no arrests have been made so far. If action is not taken promptly, we will escalate our agitation,” said Swapnil Kendre, general secretary of MARD.

The Association of Medical Officers and the Federation of All India Medical Association also condemned the incident, calling it a “grim reminder of systemic apathy”. Both associations demanded a high-level judicial probe, accountability for officials who ignored the doctor's complaints, and mental health support for medical professionals.

Opposition parties launched sharp criticism of the ruling Mahayuti government over its alleged failure to act on the doctor's earlier complaints.

State Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar wrote on X: “When the protector becomes the predator! The duty of the police is to protect citizens, but if they themselves exploit a female doctor, how will justice be delivered?”

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad accused the government of collapsing law and order. “If women cannot trust law enforcement officials, what hope is left? Criminals don't fear the law. The chief minister should hand over the home department to someone else,” she told The Hindu.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that the incident reflected a “complete breakdown” of governance, while Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey described the incident as “heart-wrenching” and questioned whether Maharashtra was moving towards “jungle raj”.

Nationalist Congress Party leader Dhananjay Munde noted that an SIT probe and a fast-track trial were needed, arguing that ignoring her complaint because she hailed from Beed would amount to “grave injustice”.

A special team has been formed to trace the accused, and police said WhatsApp messages and written complaints form part of the evidence in the case, according to the Times of India. The Satara civil surgeon has also set up an inquiry panel to determine whether hospital authorities acted on her previous complaints.

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