Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday described the death of a woman government doctor in Maharashtra’s Satara district as an “institutionalised murder,” accusing the BJP-led government of being “inhuman and insensitive.”
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “When those in power become a shield for criminals, from whom can one expect justice? Dr death exposes the inhuman and insensitive face of this BJP government. We stand firmly with the victim’s family in this fight for justice. For every daughter of India – no more fear, we need justice.” Calling it a “power-protected criminal ideology,” he added, “This is not suicide – it is institutionalised murder.”
The woman doctor was posted at a government hospital in Satara and was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan town on Thursday night.
A message reportedly written on her palm accused Police Sub-Inspector Gopal Badane of raping her multiple times and software engineer Prashant Bankar of mentally harassing her.
Rahul Gandhi said, “The suicide of the doctor in Maharashtra’s Satara due to rape and harassment is a tragedy that shakes the conscience of any civilised society. A bright young doctor, who aspired to heal others, fell victim to the torture of criminals entrenched in a corrupt system.”
He further alleged that those responsible for protecting the public had themselves committed “the most heinous crime” against the woman.
Also Read : Police arrest Prashant Bankar in Satara doctor suicide case
“Those who were entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the public from criminals committed the most heinous crime against this innocent woman – rape and exploitation. According to reports, some influential people associated with the BJP even tried to pressure her into corruption,” Gandhi said.
Police have since arrested both accused in the case. Satara Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi said that Sub-Inspector Gopal Badane surrendered at the Phaltan Rural Police Station on Saturday evening and was taken into custody.
Earlier that morning, police arrested software engineer Prashant Bankar from Pune. He was produced before a Satara court, which remanded him to police custody for four days.
A case of rape and abetment of suicide has been registered against both men. Police said Bankar is the son of the landlord of the house where the doctor resided and that she had allegedly spoken and exchanged messages with him shortly before her death.
Authorities have suspended Badane from service following his implication in the case.
The doctor was cremated at her native village in Beed’s Wadwani tehsil on Friday night. Her family members have demanded capital punishment for the accused.
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