Maharashtra leaders seek SIT, independent inquiry into woman doctor’s death

Leaders from different parties have demanded an independent inquiry and SIT probe into the alleged death of a 28-year-old woman doctor in Satara district of Maharashtra.

The doctor, who hailed from Beed district and was posted at a government hospital in Phaltan, was found dead in a hotel room on Thursday night, October 23, 2025.

She alleged that sub-inspector Gopal Badane raped her many times while software engineer Prashant Bankar mentally abused her.

A lawsuit was filed against both of them.

While the opposition targeted the Mahayuti government over the incident, State ministers said the police would conduct an impartial and thorough investigation.

NCP leader Dhananjay Munde and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve separately demanded an independent probe on Friday.

Former Minister of State Dhananjay Munde, in a post on

“The entire incident should be investigated through an SIT and the trial should be conducted in a fast-track court,” the NCP leader from Beed said, adding that he would write a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to raise these demands.

Former Opposition leader in the legislative council, Mr Danve, also recalled the woman’s Marathwada origins.

“The death of this daughter of Marathwada, who fought her way back to life since birth, shows that guardians have turned into predators,” he said, adding that an independent inquiry committee comprising officials from outside Satara district should be appointed.

Meanwhile, according to the female doctor’s alleged response to police officials in Satara district after a junior police officer lodged a complaint against her, she was threatened by police officials over her modus operandi and taunted about the crime committed in her hometown, Beed.

A relative of the deceased doctor alleged that he frequently faced pressure from the police to alter autopsy reports and also alter medical test reports of arrested persons brought to the hospital.

Activist Nitin Andhale has published the alleged statement of the female doctor to an inquiry committee.

Accordingly, an MP once accused him over the phone of not issuing a certificate of fitness to an arrested person because he belonged to Beed (which would have allowed the police to take custody of him).

He claimed that the police could have asked other doctors to examine the person but this was not done.

In his statement, he claimed that PSI Badane once threatened him in the hospital.

It was stated that despite his complaint to the Deputy Chief of Police in June this year, no action was taken.

Neelam Gorhe, Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, said the death of the doctor was alarming.

“This is a serious problem. I have written to CM Devendra Fadnavis, demanding strict action against those involved in the incident,” Gorhe said.

He said Environment Minister Shambhuraj Desai, who hails from Satara district, had assured that there would be an impartial investigation into the case.

Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Pankaja Munde, who hails from Beed district, said there should be no “media trial” regarding the incident.

“I am confident that CM Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, will ensure a thorough investigation, including a detailed forensic investigation, in the case,” he said.

Minister of State for Health Meghna Bordikar said she met the Satara civil surgeon and was informed that the doctor had never complained of facing any harassment.

Terming the doctor’s suicide as a grave incident, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said it highlighted the breakdown of law and order situation in the state.

“The Fadnavis-led government has failed to protect women,” Sawant said.

Opposition Shiv Sena UBT spokesperson Sushma Andhare also demanded formation of an independent SIT to investigate the case.

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