Maha doctors hold candle march demanding justice in Satara doctor case

Mumbai: Uniting against violence targeting medical professionals, doctors in Maharashtra have decided to hold a candle march protest in Beed on October 27, 2025, to demand justice for a Satara doctor who committed suicide, alleging rape and mental harassment by a police official and a software engineer.

The peaceful protest is being organised by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra State, along with junior doctors (JDN), medical students (MSN), and Maharashtra Government Medical Officers Association (MAGMO), and will begin at 6 PM from Shivaji Chowk, Beed. The doctors will gather to show solidarity and raise their voices against the increasing violence against medical professionals.

The protesters have demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the case, a fast-track trial so justice is not delayed and financial assistance from the government for the deceased doctor's family.

Also read- Satara doctor suicide case: Accused sub-inspector in custody

The association said, "An attack on one doctor is an attack on the entire medical fraternity. Let's join hands to demand justice, safety and dignity for every healthcare professional."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a woman doctor working at a Phaltan Sub-District Hospital in Maharashtra’s Satara district allegedly died by suicide, leaving a note on her palm, accusing a police officer and a software engineer of rape and mental harassment. Both accused were arrested in connection with the case.

The 28-year-old doctor, who hailed from Beed district and worked at a government hospital in Phaltan tehsil, was allegedly found hanging in a hotel room at Phaltan late on Thursday night. In a suicide note written on her palm, the doctor alleged that she had been raped and mentally harassed by a Satara police official and a software engineer over the last five months. She wrote that sub-inspector Gopal Badane allegedly raped and sexually harassed her on multiple occasions, and software engineer Prashant Bankar, her landlord’s son, mentally harassed her.

Following her demise, the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA), along with several other associations, wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, expressing deep shock and anger over her death.

In the letter, FORDA stated that she had earlier filed a harassment complaint with Phaltan DSP in June 2025, but no action was taken. She was under pressure to prepare false medical records and post-mortem reports, and her death shows the failure of authorities to protect doctors and act on complaints.

Following this, the association demanded:

• Inquiry into systemic failures – investigation into why her June 2025 complaint was ignored and accountability for officers who failed to act.
• Investigation into pressure for false reports – thorough probe into allegations that she was forced to falsify medical records, with strict action against those responsible.
• Adequate compensation to Dr ***’s family and full support in pursuing justice.
• Implementation of safety measures for resident doctors: Enhanced security and CCTV surveillance in hospitals, and Time-bound protocols for harassment complaints