Satara Doctor Suicide Sparks Political Clash in Maharashtra

Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday criticized the Opposition for politicizing the Satara doctor’s suicide case. Pointing out that two suspects mentioned in the suicide note, including a police inspector, were arrested, Fadnavis claimed that he would not rest until justice was served in the case. However, the opposition continued to put pressure on the prime minister. Congress MP Praniti Shinde demanded the CM’s resignation. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called it an institutionalized murder.

The woman doctor, a native of Marathwada’s Beed district, was found dead in a hotel room in Satara on Thursday. He was working as a medical officer at Phaltan Sub District Hospital in Satara.

According to the police, the doctor had written a suicide note in Marathi on his palm in which he accused Sub-Inspector of Police (PSI) Gopal Badne of raping her four times over five months. She also named Prashant Bankar, alleging that he physically and mentally abused her.

Both suspects named in the suicide note were arrested on Saturday. However, the Opposition tried to link the case with the ruling party leaders and demanded the resignation of Mr. Fadnavis.

Mr. Fadnavis, who was in Phaltan, Satara, to attend an event, alleged that efforts were being made to obstruct the inauguration and ground-breaking visit of many development projects. He criticized the opposition for unnecessarily dragging the names of former BJP MP Ranjitsinh Nimbalkar and NCP MLA Sachin Patil in the case.

Referring to the doctor as “younger sister”, Fadnavis said he would not tolerate attempts to politicize the case. “The incident is extremely unfortunate. He had written a suicide note on his palm and both the accused in the case have been arrested. I will not rest until justice is served. The unfortunate death has been politicized and I will not tolerate such attempts,” he said.

Congress MP Praniti Shinde met the family members of the woman doctor at their residence in Beed district to express her condolences. “The chief minister and the home minister (Mr Fadnavis, instead of protecting women in both positions) spend time making personal and derogatory remarks against women MPs. But when it comes to ensuring the safety of women, they raise their hands in despair. They have brought down the reputation of the culture of Maharashtra to a new level. I believe the resignation of the chief minister-home minister is necessary,” he said.

Condemning the allegations of rape and suicide, Mr. Gandhi posted on his X account: “A promising doctor’s daughter, who aimed to alleviate the suffering of others, became a victim of torture by criminals entrenched in a corrupt system and power structure. The authorities tasked with protecting the public from criminals committed the most heinous crime against this innocent woman; they raped and abused her.”

Citing some “reports”, Mr Gandhi alleged that some influential people associated with the BJP were also trying to pressure him into corruption. “This is the most despicable example of ideology protected by crime. This is not a suicide, it is an institutional murder,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bankar’s family members claimed that the doctor proposed to her in October, but the bank rejected this offer. Bankar’s sister claimed that she mentioned her name in the suicide note out of disappointment over the doctor’s rejection.

According to the information obtained, the police seized the messages and call data records between the doctor and Bankar. In his suicide note, the doctor claimed that he faced repeated pressure from police officers to issue fitness certificates to the accused persons. The doctor had previously lodged a complaint against three police officers, including Badane, earlier this year. However, she had not complained of any sexual harassment in the past.

However, sources in the police force said the doctor frequently refused to issue fitness certificates and declared the accused unfit without justification, leading to delay in arrests. This led the police department to request that he be replaced.

After the police lodged their complaint, a two-member committee was appointed to investigate. In August 2025, the doctor made a detailed statement reiterating his allegations and warned that “if anything happens to me, the police will be responsible.”