Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday strongly criticized the BJP-led Maharashtra government, calling the alleged suicide of a woman government doctor in Satara district an act of “institutionalised murder.” He accused the ruling establishment of shielding those responsible and failing to protect women from systemic injustice.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi wrote, “When those in power become a shield for criminals, from whom can one expect justice? The death of Dr. [Name withheld] exposes the inhuman and insensitive face of this BJP government. For every daughter of India — no more fear, we need justice.”
Gandhi described the incident as a “power-protected criminal ideology”, saying, “This is not suicide — it is institutionalised murder.” He added that the young doctor’s death “shakes the conscience of any civilised society,” condemning the alleged exploitation she faced from individuals within a system meant to protect her.
Case Details
The deceased doctor, posted at a government hospital in Satara, was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan on Thursday night. According to preliminary reports, she had written a note on her palm, accusing police sub-inspector Gopal Badane of repeatedly raping her and software engineer Prashant Bankar of mentally harassing her.
Both accused have since been taken into custody. Police said that Badane surrendered at the Phaltan Rural Police Station on Saturday, while Bankar was arrested from Pune earlier the same day. A local court has remanded Bankar to four days of police custody.
A case of rape and abetment of suicide has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC. Authorities have also suspended Sub-Inspector Badane pending further investigation.
Public Outrage and Political Reaction
The tragedy has triggered widespread outrage across Maharashtra, with women’s groups and opposition leaders demanding swift and exemplary punishment for those responsible. The doctor’s family, who performed her last rites at her native village in Beed district, has called for capital punishment for the accused.
