Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 25: Outrage swept through Maharashtra’s medical community on Saturday after a 26-year-old woman doctor from Satara died by suicide, alleging repeated rape by a police officer and pressure from a Member of Parliament to falsify medical reports of jail inmates.

In response, thousands of resident doctors under the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) staged protests at KEM Hospital, Mumbai, wearing black armbands to mourn the young doctor and to demand swift justice.

According to MARD, over 8,000 resident doctors across the state joined the protest, calling for a CID or Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the case.

Female doctors at KEM expressed fear and frustration, warning that if strong action is not taken, such tragedies could recur.

“After this incident, we’re working with black ribbons tied to our arms. We haven’t stopped OPD or emergency services yet, but if our demands aren’t met, we’ll intensify the protest,” said Dr. Sameer Warge, a resident doctor at KEM.

“We want immediate arrest of the accused and a properly functioning POSH committee to ensure accountability. We serve patients, but we also deserve safety.”

Another protesting doctor said that the victim’s repeated complaints had gone unheard.

“It’s heartbreaking that despite reaching out, no one helped her. She was driven to this. There must be an independent, transparent probe—preferably by the CBI—and strict enforcement of the POSH Act,” she said.

Dr. Bhumika, another protester, described the demonstration as a “silent but powerful message.”

“We’re not stopping services, but we’re demanding justice, a time-bound investigation, and a system to protect doctors from external pressure. Every woman doctor should feel safe at work.”

Echoing the sentiment, Dr. Seenam said,

“We want our demands fulfilled. If the authorities don’t act, we’ll be forced to halt work. Doctors can’t serve the public in an unsafe and disrespectful environment.”

The victim’s suicide note, spanning four pages, and an inked message on her palm, revealed harrowing details — she accused Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne of raping her four times and subjecting her to sustained mental and physical abuse. She also wrote that she had been pressured by the officer and an MP with his aides to issue fake fitness certificates for accused individuals who were never medically examined.

The deceased, originally from Beed district, had been serving as a medical officer at Phaltan Sub-District Hospital in Satara for nearly two years. She was just a month away from completing her mandatory rural service bond when she took the extreme step.

In her final note, she named her tormentors explicitly, writing:

“The reason for my death is Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne, who raped me, and Prashant Bankar, who tortured me mentally and physically for four months.”

The devastating revelations have shaken Maharashtra’s healthcare system and sparked widespread calls for justice, accountability, and protection for women in public service.

MARD has warned that if authorities fail to act decisively, statewide medical services may be disrupted as doctors escalate their protest in solidarity with their fallen colleague.