Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Sunday expressed shock over the alleged suicide of a 29-year-old doctor in Maharashtra’s Satara district, describing it as “a tragedy that shakes the conscience of any civilized society.”
“The suicide of Dr. Sampada Munde in Satara, Maharashtra, driven to despair by rape and harassment, is a tragedy that shakes the conscience of any civilized society,” Gandhi said in a post on X.
“A promising doctor daughter, who aspired to alleviate the pain of others, became a victim of persecution by criminals entrenched in a corrupt system and power structure,” he added.
Launching a sharp attack on the government, Gandhi said, “The very authority tasked with protecting the public from criminals committed the most heinous crime against this innocent woman—rape and exploitation.”
महाराष्ट्र के सतारा में बलात्कार और उत्पीड़न से तंग आकर डॉ. संपदा मुंडे की आत्महत्या किसी भी सभ्य समाज की अंतरात्मा को झकझोर देने वाली त्रासदी है।
एक होनहार डॉक्टर बेटी, जो दूसरों का दर्द मिटाने की आकांक्षा रखती थी, भ्रष्ट सत्ता और तंत्र में बैठे अपराधियों की प्रताड़ना का शिकार…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 26, 2025
He further alleged that, according to reports, some influential individuals associated with the BJP also attempted to pressure her into corruption.
“This is the most despicable example of a criminally protected ideology. This is not a suicide—it is an institutional murder,” Gandhi said.
“When power becomes a shield for criminals, from whom can justice be expected? Dr. Sampada’s death exposes the inhumane and insensitive face of this BJP government.”
Expressing solidarity with the victim’s family, he added, “We stand firmly with the victim’s family in this fight for justice. For every daughter of India—no more fear, we demand justice.”
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What had happened
A 29-year-old doctor at a hospital in Maharashtra’s Satara district allegedly died by suicide, leaving a note on her palm stating that she was raped multiple times by sub-inspector Gopal Badane and sexually harassed and assaulted by Prashant Bankar, police said.
According to police, Bankar is the son of the owner of the house where the doctor was living on rent in Phaltan.
The doctor, originally from Beed district, was posted as a medical officer at a hospital in Phaltan town. Her body was found by hotel staff at a Phaltan lodge on Thursday night; police said she had checked in the previous day.
Satara SP Tushar Doshi said police have booked sub-inspector Gopal Badane and Prashant Bankar on charges of rape and abetment of suicide.
