CCTV footage obtained from a hotel in Maharashtra’s Satara district has confirmed that the 28-year-old woman doctor, whose death last week triggered widespread political outrage, had checked into the lodge alone on the night she died. The footage, released by the hotel owner, directly contradicts claims by some political leaders that the case could be a murder disguised as suicide.
The doctor, posted at a government hospital in Satara and originally from Beed district, was found dead in her hotel room late on October 23. A suicide note — written on her palm — named Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Gopal Badane and software engineer Prashant Bankar, accusing the former of sexual assault and the latter of prolonged mental harassment. Both men have since been arrested.
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CCTV Confirms Solo Check-In
The newly surfaced footage shows the doctor arriving alone at the hotel shortly after leaving Bankar’s home, where she had reportedly attended a Lakshmi Puja earlier that evening. The hotel owner released the video to authorities after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare questioned whether the doctor had entered the hotel voluntarily, hinting at possible coercion. The footage, however, shows no one accompanying her at the time of check-in.
Timeline of Events
Preliminary investigations reveal that the doctor and Bankar had an argument at his residence during the Puja over photographs taken at the event. “She left the house after the argument but was briefly brought back by Bankar’s father. Later, she left again and checked into a nearby lodge,” said Maharashtra State Commission for Women chairperson Rupali Chakankar.
Investigators found that the doctor sent a series of distress messages to Bankar before her death, indicating suicidal thoughts. Police also confirmed that she made a late-night call to him, though it remains unclear whether he answered. The next morning, hotel staff discovered her body. The post-mortem confirmed death by hanging, and the final forensic report is awaited.
Serious Allegations Against PSI and Landlord’s Son
The handwritten note on her palm accused PSI Gopal Badane of repeated sexual assault and alleged that Bankar, her landlord’s son, had mentally harassed her for months. According to Satara Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi, digital records show she was in contact with Bankar in the days before her death, while her last known interaction with Badane dates back to March. The rape case against Badane is being investigated by officers outside the Phaltan division to ensure impartiality.
Earlier Complaints Ignored
Investigations have revealed that the doctor had previously lodged multiple complaints against PSI Badane and other officers, alleging harassment and coercion. In a written complaint dated June 19, she accused them of pressuring her to issue false medical fitness certificates for criminal suspects. However, the Phaltan Rural Police later filed a counter-FIR against her, accusing her of obstructing an investigation — a move activists say worsened her distress and left her without institutional support.
Chakankar confirmed that the Women’s Commission will review why no departmental action was taken on her earlier complaint.
Political and Public Outrage
The case has sparked statewide political reactions, with Opposition leaders calling it an “institutional failure.” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s Prakash Ambedkar have demanded accountability and pledged legal aid for the victim’s family.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the ongoing police probe but cautioned against politicising the tragedy. State-appointed coordinator Dr Omprakash Shete met the family in Beed and assured them that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde would personally monitor the investigation.
Meanwhile, the victim’s hometown of Wadwani observed a complete shutdown on Tuesday, demanding a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
