Pune Man Arrested in Woman Doctor’s Suicide Case in Satara
Police detain Prashant Bankar, named in suicide note, while sub-inspector Gopal Badane faces rape and abetment charges
Mumbai: Two days after the tragic suicide of a woman doctor in Maharashtra’s Satara district, police have arrested Prashant Bankar, one of the individuals named in her suicide note. However, the main accused, Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Gopal Badne, who allegedly raped the doctor four times over a span of five months, remains absconding.
The case has taken a political turn, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) accusing former BJP MP Ranjeetsinha Nimbalkar of exerting pressure on the victim. While Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and former minister Yashomati Thakur has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, alleging he has failed in his responsibility as the state’s home minister.
However, Mr. Fadnavis urged the opposition not to politicize the case, asserting that “no one will be spared” and promising strict action against those found guilty.
The woman doctor, a native of Beed district in Marathwada, was found dead in a hotel room in Satara on Thursday. She was serving as a medical officer at the Phaltan Sub-District Hospital in Satara.
According to police, the doctor had written a suicide note on her palm in Marathi, in which she accused Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Gopal Badne of raping her four times over a span of five months. She also named Prashant Bankar, alleging that he physically and mentally harassed her.
Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve alleged that former BJP MP Ranjeetsinha Nimbalkar contacted the victim on July 31, 2025, through his personal assistants, Rajendra Shinde and Nag Tilak, regarding the issuance of a fitness certificate to an accused who was allegedly unfit.
Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and former Maharashtra minister Yashomati Thakur slammed the state government over the doctor’s suicide in a post on X. “The suicide of Dr. Sampada Munde is deeply heartbreaking in Phaltan. The protectors of the law have themselves become predators. Devendra Fadnavis, you want to keep both the posts of Chief Minister and Home Minister for yourself… If you are unable to handle your responsibility, you should resign,” she said.
Tushar Doshi, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Satara, confirmed the arrest of Prashant Bankar, saying, “The other accused, the PSI, is still at large and our team is trying to arrest him.”
A senior official added that the Satara police had obtained WhatsApp chats between the victim, the PSI, and Bankar. However, the victim had never filed an official complaint of sexual harassment with the police.
CM Fadnavis accused the opposition of trying to give a political colour to the incident. “If evidence establishes links of anyone directly or indirectly involved in this case, we will not spare them,” he said.
