‘Messaged she would kill herself’: Women’s commission head cites call records in Satara doctor’s suicide case

Chakankar said that the IC committee, a mandatory body under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 – was active in Satara’s health department.

The 29 year old doctor working as a medical officer at a hospital in Phaltan, had been found dead at a hotel in Phaltan town, on Thursday night. According to police, they found a suicide note written on the woman’s left palm which said she was allegedly raped four times by police sub-inspector Gopal Badane and also mentally and sexually assaulted a software engineer, Prashant Bankar, for the last few months.

Chakankar also shared details about the complaints filed by the deceased and the police against each other. The deceased had filed a complaint on June 19, 2025, with the local sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), alleging that she was being pressured by cops to give medically fit certificates to accused persons whop were brought to her for pre-arrest medical examinations. She had named three police officers. including sub-inspector Badane in this complaint.

According to Chakankar, before this complaint, the police had made a “general diary” entry in May, regarding the issue. Chakankar said that police had complaints against the deceased doctor over her providing medically unfit certificates and not working properly when accused persons were brought for medical examinations at night.

“The doctor had complaints over the police asking her to give fit certificates to the accused. She wanted the accused to be brought in during working hours and not in the night for medical tests,” Chakankar said.

“An inquiry committee was set up to look into the complaints. The case was disposed of on August 23, 2025… The inquiry committee had recorded statements of the deceased doctor, police and other related persons. The inquiry committee’s report directed the doctor to speak to the police personnel properly at the workplace or her place of appointment would be changed. During the three times she was transferred, she urged to be posted at the hospital in Phaltan itself. Accordingly, a special order was issued for her to work here,” said Chakankar.

Regarding the ongoing probe, Chakankar said the police had checked the call details record (CDS) between the deceased and the accused persons.

“It shows there was communication between the deceased doctor and Badane between January and March, but not after that. However, she had communicated with Bankar. Prior to the suicide, she had been to Bankar’s house on Laxmipujan day during Diwali. At this time, a quarrel broke out between the two over photographs being taken. After heated arguments, she left Bankar’s house and reached a temple. Bankar’s father brought her home by making her understand it was not good to be out in the evening and on a festival day. But she again left home and went to the hotel. Then she messaged Bankar several times… She even messaged that she would commit suicide. Bankar has said something like she had made similar threats in the past,” said Chakankar.

About the rape allegations against Badane, Chakankar said police were probing when and where he and the deceased woman were at the same locations. “We will be following the case closely. The case will be tried before a fast track court… Police have been directed to conduct a fair investigation,” she said.

Following the discovery of the deceased doctor’s body, a first information report (FIR) was then lodged at Phaltan city police station against Badane and Bankar, both of whom have been arrested under BNS sections 108, 64 (2). Haiing from Beed district, the deceased doctor was residing in a house that belonged to Bankar’s father in Phaltan on rental basis.

A court had on Sunday remanded suspected police sub inspector Badane to police custody till October 30 for further investigation in this case. A day before, accused Bankar was remanded to police custody till October 28, by the court. Both accused have denied allegations against them. Police said they are probing the phone calls and WhatsApp conversations between the deceased and the two accused persons.

The forensic lab and post mortem reports are awaited, police said.