Rahul speaks to Satara doctor’s family, assures support; Cong demands arrest of former BJP MP

Rahul Gandhi also sought complete details of the case from the victim’s family and from state Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal, who was also present there.

The death has sparked a political row after the names of former BJP MP Ranjitsinh Naik Nimbalkar and his PA along with several police officials surfaced.

On October 23, a 29-year-old woman doctor, originally from Beed, was found dead, with a purported suicide note scribbled on her hand, in which she alleged sexual harassment and rape by police sub-inspector Gopal Badane and mental harassment by her landlord’s son Prashant Bankar. Both the accused have been arrested.

However, the BJP and Nimbalkar were dragged into the controversy after a letter, purportedly written earlier this year by the victim, alleged that two personal assistants of a “former MP” had “pressured her to alter medical reports” of a person arrested in a case.

While CM Fadnavis has given him the clean chit, Nimbalkar too has denied all allegations. “It is horrible when baseless charges are levelled… I have two daughters. Why should I be afraid when I have done nothing wrong?” he has said.

On Wednesday, a delegation of opposition Congress led by state unit chief Harshvardhan Sapkal met the victim’s family at her native village in Beed district.

Sapkal has demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be formed and a probe be conducted under the supervision of a High Court judge, and that Nimbalkar be immediately arrested.

Speaking to the media after the visit, Sapkal said, “She was subjected to immense pressure to do wrongful acts and was severely harassed. Several incidents exposing Naik Nimbalkar’s hooliganism have already come to light. What is infuriating is that even before any investigation began, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis publicly gave him a clean chit. The probe should be conducted outside Phaltan, under the supervision of a senior woman officer. The Congress will not remain silent — we will take to the streets to ensure justice,” Sapkal said.

Sapkal slammed the ruling coalition, recalling the murder case of Massajog village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.

Targeting BJP MLA Suresh Dhas, without naming him, Sapkal said that local MLA from the ruling party would speak to the media every day (after the sarpanch’s death) , but now he is silent.

“Pankaja Munde (BJP minister from Beed) too has remained silent — she must speak up, setting aside political pressure from the Chief Minister,” he said.