In a case that has shaken Maharashtra’s medical and law-enforcement circles, a police sub-inspector from Phaltan City has been dismissed from service after being named in the suicide note of a 29-year-old woman doctor. The action against the officer, Gopal Badane, was announced by Sunil Phulari, Special Inspector General of the Kolhapur Range, on Tuesday. The dismissal marks one of the most serious steps taken by the department in a case where a serving police officer has been directly implicated in abetment and sexual exploitation leading to a woman’s death.

The doctor, who worked in Phaltan, was found dead on October 23 inside a hotel room, prompting immediate suspicion given her previous run-ins with local police personnel. A post-mortem examination later confirmed that she died due to asphyxia caused by hanging, and that no external or internal injuries were present, ruling out any struggle or forced physical harm immediately before her death. However, the circumstances that preceded her death pointed to a much deeper narrative of coercion, harassment, and alleged abuse of authority.

A handwritten suicide note was discovered on her palm and became the central piece of evidence in the investigation. In the note, she explicitly named Gopal Badane, the sub-inspector, and Prashant Bankar, a software engineer. Both men were subsequently arrested. While Badane has been charged with rape, sexual assault, and abetment, Bankar has been booked under charges relating to harassment. Investigators believe that the two men played distinct roles in a prolonged period of emotional and psychological abuse that the young doctor endured.

Police records reveal that the victim had previously submitted several complaints accusing Badane and some other police officers of threatening her and pressuring her in ways that compromised her work as a medical professional. According to her family’s statements, she had alleged that officers had coerced her to manipulate medical and autopsy records, a grave accusation that points to possible misconduct within the police station where Badane was serving. The family maintains that she faced repeated intimidation after attempting to resist these illegal demands, leaving her vulnerable and increasingly distressed. Whether these allegations were officially investigated at the time remains a subject of inquiry.

The tragedy has drawn the attention of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission, whose chairperson, Rupali Chakankar, personally visited the Phaltan Sub-District Hospital as part of the Commission’s fact-finding effort. Speaking to the media after her visit, Chakankar shared insights emerging from the early stages of the probe. She revealed that the doctor had sent her final message to Prashant Bankar shortly before her death, suggesting that Bankar had been in direct communication with her until her last hours. She also clarified that the doctor had not been in touch with Badane for several months before the suicide, though she had accused him earlier of sexual exploitation and coercion.

According to Chakankar, a dispute between the doctor and Bankar occurred the day before her death, after which the doctor left for the hotel where she was later found dead. The nature of this argument, what triggered it, and its impact on her emotional state are among the issues being examined by investigators.

As the investigation deepens, one critical piece of evidence remains missing: Badane’s mobile phone. Sources within the police department say that the officer concealed his phone before surrendering himself, raising suspicion that it may contain call logs, messages, recordings, images, or other data that could help establish his involvement or reveal the pressure he had allegedly exerted on the doctor. Locating the phone has become a top priority, as investigators believe it may help connect the dots leading up to her death.

The police have already retrieved call detail records (CDRs) of both the victim and the accused, a step that may help reconstruct the timeline of interactions, but without Badane’s phone, the probe remains incomplete. Investigators are also examining whether the doctor’s earlier complaints against police officers were properly documented or acted upon, and whether negligence or deliberate dismissal of her concerns contributed to the circumstances of her death.

The broader implications of the case have resonated throughout Maharashtra. The involvement of a police officer in such serious allegations—ranging from sexual exploitation to attempts at using his position to manipulate medical reports—has raised serious questions about internal accountability. Critics argue that had the doctor’s earlier complaints been taken seriously, her life may have been saved. The case has revived vigour in discussions regarding institutional safeguards for whistleblowers, particularly in professions like medicine, where external pressure from law enforcement or political actors can jeopardise the integrity of crucial public health records.

Meanwhile, the dismissal of Badane from the police force is being seen as a significant administrative move. While dismissal does not equate to conviction, it reflects the seriousness with which the department is viewing the charges and the potential misconduct. Senior officials have said that internal disciplinary procedures will continue, and any further individuals found to have contributed to the harassment or failed to act appropriately on the doctor’s earlier complaints may also face consequences.

The case is expected to be closely monitored in the coming weeks as investigators look to recover the missing phone, examine digital and documentary evidence, and build a complete picture of the events that pushed a young doctor to take her life. For her family, the hope remains that the investigation will not only bring justice but also expose the systemic problems that allowed the harassment to continue unchecked.