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Maharashtra Doctor Rape Case: In a fresh update in the Maharashtra doctor rape and suicide case, police have arrested one of the two key accused, Prashant Bankar, over the mental harassment of the deceased. The accused will be produced in court today. 

Tushar Doshi, SP Satara Police, says, "Police arrested Prashant Bankar, one of the two accused in the suicide case of a woman doctor in Phaltan taluka. He will be produced in court today. The other accused, Police Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne, is still absconding, and a search is underway to nab him."

The government doctor, who died by suicide in Satara district of Maharashtra after repeated rape and mental harassment, has left a 4-page suicide note accusing a Member of Parliament of threatening her.

The doctor, who had been serving at the Phaltan sub-district hospital in Satara for the last 23 months, wrote that she was pressured to make fake fitness certificates for accused in police cases and harassed when she refused.

Maharashtra Doctor Suicide: MP Pressured Victim

In her suicide note, the doctor also mentioned that in one case, she was even pressured by a member of Parliament and his two personal assistants, news media platform NDTV reported.

According to the suicide note, the doctor was continuously forced to issue fake fitness certificates to accused in police cases, many of whom would not even be brought to the hospital for medical examination and when she refused,  she alleged that Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne and others would harass her.

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She recalled a specific incident where she refused to issue a certificate. Two personal assistants of a Member of Parliament entered the hospital, contacted the MP, and put her on the phone with him, during which the MP indirectly threatened her.

Victim's Family Testifies To Accusations

The doctor's cousin has also made similar allegations, stating that she was being forced to falsify medical certificates. "She had raised complaints on two to three occasions. Despite writing a letter to the Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), no action was taken," doctor's cousin was quoted as saying by NDTV.

"In the letter, she asked that if anything happened to her, who would be responsible for it? She also flagged the lack of security at the premises, but nothing happened. She also called the DSP, who said he would call her back, but no one took any action," the report added, quoting him as saying.

The deceased doctor’s aunt said she had spoken to them several times about the pressure she was undergoing at her workplace.

“She was bright and ambitious. We raised her since childhood and supported her education. She was under pressure at work, and that is why she took this extreme step. The culprits must be punished,” one of the aunts said.

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Maharashtra Rape Victim Was Harassed By Landlord

The victim, in her suicide note, also mentioned that she was being harassed by her landlord, Prashant Bankar.

Badne and Bankar have been booked under the charges of rape and abetment to suicide.

"We are investigating the matter on the basis of evidence gathered so far. A case has been lodged in Satara district. The police officer involved in the case has been suspended," Sunil Phulari, Inspector General of Police (Kolhapur division), was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The doctor in her late 20s had already completed 23 months of duty out of 2 years and  was just a month away from completing her bond period - requiring service in a rural area - after which she intended to pursue a post-graduate degree.

 

 

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