In a powerful show of solidarity and compassion, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule on Monday met the grieving family of a woman doctor from Beed district who allegedly died by suicide in Satara, Maharashtra. Sule assured the family of full support in their pursuit of justice and called for a fair, transparent, and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sule expressed deep anguish over the incident and urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, not to give a “clean chit” to anyone until the inquiry is completed. “The statements made by some government representatives in this case are extremely insensitive and disturbing,” she said. “The doctor was a capable daughter of Maharashtra and she must get justice. People feel attempts are being made to suppress the case, but we will not remain silent until justice is done.”

The 32-year-old doctor, originally from Beed district, was found dead on October 23 in a hotel room in Phaltan town, Satara district. According to police reports, she left behind a note written on her palm in which she accused two individuals — sub-inspector Gopal Badane and software engineer Prashant Bankar — of sexually and mentally harassing her. Badane was accused of repeatedly raping the victim, while Bankar allegedly subjected her to sustained psychological harassment. Both men have since been arrested.

The shocking case has triggered widespread outrage across Maharashtra, drawing attention to the vulnerabilities faced by women in professional settings and the perceived lapses in the system’s response to their complaints. In the aftermath of public pressure, Chief Minister Fadnavis ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a woman IPS officer to ensure that the probe proceeds without bias or interference.

However, Sule — who has been vocal on women’s rights and justice issues — said that merely forming an SIT was not enough. She demanded that the investigation be supervised by a retired judge to maintain transparency and public confidence. “A Special Investigation Team headed by a retired judge should be constituted. Only then will people have faith that the process will be impartial and thorough,” she told reporters.

Sule, who was accompanied by NCP MP Bajrang Sonawane and the party’s youth wing president Maheboob Shaikh during her visit to Beed, also criticized the handling of confidential evidence related to the case. Referring to reports that portions of the doctor’s call detail records (CDR) were selectively leaked to the media, she questioned how such private information became public. “This selective leak of the CDR is extremely wrong. How was such information made public? This kind of dirty politics has no place in Maharashtra,” she said.

Sule further appealed to the state’s leadership — including Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde — to rise above political affiliations and ensure justice for the victim’s family. “Let the investigation happen. Why this hurry? Whoever is guilty — no matter who they are — must be punished,” she said, emphasizing that no political pressure should influence the inquiry. “We stand firmly with the bereaved family on humanitarian grounds. No political interference should come in the way of justice.”

The NCP working president also announced that MP Bajrang Sonawane will soon meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to brief him on the case and seek his intervention to ensure that the investigation remains free from political influence. “We will take this issue to Delhi if necessary. The family deserves full support, and the culprits must face the consequences,” Sule said.

According to police, preliminary investigations revealed that the doctor had been in distress for some time and had confided in friends about being harassed. Her death, however, has raised broader questions about workplace safety, gender sensitivity in law enforcement, and accountability among those in power. Women’s groups and medical associations have condemned the incident, calling for stronger safeguards for women professionals and a more sensitive approach to sexual harassment complaints.

Sule’s visit to Beed and her statements mark one of the strongest political responses to the case so far. Her comments are being seen as part of a broader effort by the NCP to pressure the state government into ensuring transparency and accountability in investigations involving police officers and other influential individuals.

In her concluding remarks, Sule urged the government and the public not to lose sight of the human tragedy behind the controversy. “This young doctor worked hard to serve society. Her death should not become a political issue — it should become a moment of introspection for all of us,” she said. “We owe it to her memory to make sure no other woman faces what she went through.”

The doctor’s death continues to evoke strong emotions across Maharashtra, with protests and candlelight vigils taking place in Beed and Satara. Civil society groups have demanded swift justice and systemic reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future. For now, all eyes are on the Special Investigation Team — and whether the state government will agree to Sule’s demand for a judicially monitored probe.