Maharashtra doctor suicide case: 2 arrested, family demands death penalty
What's the story
A police sub-inspector and a software engineer have been arrested in connection with the suicide of a woman doctor in Maharashtra. The doctor was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan town on Thursday night. In her suicide note, she accused police sub-inspector Gopal Badane of raping her multiple times and Prashant Bankar, a software engineer, of mentally harassing her.
Legal proceedings
Bankar was in Pune when he was arrested
Bankar was arrested from Pune and produced before a Satara district court, which remanded him in police custody for four days. He has been booked for abetment of suicide and mental harassment. Badane surrendered to the police hours after Bankar's arrest and was also booked under rape charges.
Public outcry
Victim's family demands capital punishment for the accused
The victim's family has demanded capital punishment for the accused. They alleged that she had complained of harassment several times, but her complaints were ignored. Speaking to a news channel, a relative of the deceased doctor said, "She complained multiple times about harassment, but her grievances were not addressed." Another relative alleged that she was forced to change medical reports at work under political pressure.
Political pressure
BJP MLA demands MP's name be included in FIR
BJP MLA Suresh Dhas has demanded that an unnamed MP be included as an accused in the case. The victim's family alleged she faced threats from police officials and was taunted over the crime in her native district, Beed. Her two cousins, who are also doctors, alleged that post-mortem duties were assigned to her only to harass her at work.
Personal background
Wanted to pursue MD course but financially constrained
The victim wanted to pursue an MD course but was financially constrained. Her uncle told PTI that she took a loan of ₹3 lakh for her MBBS course, which remains unpaid. "Her father is a farmer; he is not an educated person. I am a teacher and I took her to Beed for schooling.... she did not want to stop at MBBS, but wanted to pursue MD in medicine," he was quoted as saying.