Pune (Maharashtra) [India], October 27 (ANI): Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde condemned the rape case of a female doctor in Satara. He firmly stated that the accused individuals will be awarded with harsh punishment.

'The accused have been arrested. The incident is condemnable and unfortunate. In this case, none of the accused will be let go, there will be very harsh punishment, and the whole matter will go to the fast-track court,' he said.

Also, Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Gopinath Munde met the family of the victim and offered support and assurance.

'After I got to know the details today, I visited the family of the deceased, offered condolences, and assured them of support. I will discuss the matter with the Chief Minister, and I am confident that justice will be served,' she said.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said, 'The Home Department of Maharashtra is bankrupt. The law and order situation has completely collapsed... Ordinary people don't even have the courage to go to the police station... The police have become vagrants, resorting to hooliganism...'

Earlier, Satara Police arrested two persons, Police Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne and Prashant Bankar, in connection with the case. A case was registered against the accused duo under charges of rape and abetment to suicide. The Police Sub-Inspector Badne named in the note was suspended following this development.

Officials said that the woman doctor died by suicide in Satara on Friday, leaving a note written on her hand that named a police official and two others.

The victim's cousin alleged that the doctor had been facing political pressure related to her work. 'There was a lot of police and political pressure on her to make wrong mortem reports. She tried to complain about it. My sister should get justice,' the cousin told ANI.

'She was under a lot of political and police pressure for the last year. Medical staff at the hospital are also involved. Everyone forced her to make wrong postmortem reports and forge fitness certificates. She was being forced to perform more and more postmortems despite other officers being present at the hospital,' the cousin said.

The cousin also said that they suspect that another suicide note might exist, alleging that the doctor had been documenting her distress and complaints in writing.

Another cousin demanded strict punishment for those involved. 'The accused should get the strictest of punishment,' he said.

In addition, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has condemned the death of Dr Sampada Mundhe at Phaltan in Maharashtra and has called for an immediate and transparent investigation into the incident. (ANI)