Fresh twist in Maharashtra doctor’s suicide case; cousin says medic was under political pressure to alter postmortem reports

After the alleged suicide of a 28-year-old woman doctor in Maharashtra’s Satara district came to light, a series of allegations and twists have surfaced. Recently, a woman from Satara alleged that the 28-year-old doctor had signed a fake postmortem report concerning her daughter’s death.

The woman, Bhagyashree Maruti Pachangne, claimed that her daughter, who was married to an Indian Army officer, was tortured at her marital home and may have been murdered rather than dying a natural death. She further alleged that the doctor had been pressured to alter the postmortem report.

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The deceased doctor’s cousin has also made similar claims, stating that she was under pressure to give false medical reports. In a suicide note written on her palm, the doctor accused police sub-inspector Gopal Badane of sexual assault and a techie, Prashant Bankar, of mental harassment.

She also mentioned a former MP in a separate four-page suicide letter, alleging that two of his personal assistants had asked her to declare an accused, Malhari Channe, medically fit.

Quoting an unnamed relative, a news agency reported that the doctor often faced political pressure to change medical findings while working on autopsy duty at the sub-district hospital in Phaltan.

“Political people in Phaltan often asked her to change medical reports. She had complained multiple times against the PSI named in her note, but her complaints were ignored,” the relative said.

The case has now triggered a major political controversy in Maharashtra, with the Opposition alleging that the doctor was victimised by criminals.

Police have arrested software engineer Prashant Bankar, the son of her landlord, whom the doctor accused of harassment. Sub-inspector Gopal Badane, accused of rape, later surrendered and has since been suspended from service.

A case of rape and abetment of suicide has been registered against both men in Phaltan, Satara district.