Maharashtra’s Wadwani shuts down as locals demand SIT probe into doctor’s death

Residents of Wadwani in Maharashtra’s Beed district observed a bandh on Tuesday, demanding the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged suicide of a 28-year-old woman doctor from the region.

The doctor was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan taluka of Satara district last week. A suicide note written on her palm was recovered, in which she alleged that police sub-inspector Gopal Badane raped her on multiple occasions, while Prashant Bankar, a software engineer, mentally harassed her. Police said that both accused have been arrested.

According to officials, the suicide note on her palm is the primary piece of evidence in the case. Investigators are also examining other possible evidence, including hotel CCTV footage, call records, and digital data , to verify the allegations and sequence of events leading to her death.

Residents of Wadwani, the taluka where the doctor’s village is located, observed a peaceful bandh and took out a march from Shivaji Maharaj Chowk to the tehsil office. They submitted a memorandum to local authorities demanding an SIT probe, a fast-track trial, and strict action against all those responsible.

An activist who participated in the protest alleged that other officials might also be involved and called for their suspension and punishment. The bandh remained peaceful and was limited to Wadwani, police said.

The doctor’s family has also urged the government to set up an SIT and conduct the trial in a fast-track court in Beed, instead of Phaltan, where the incident occurred. Authorities have assured that all aspects of the case are being investigated.