Maharashtra doctor’s death: Accused suspended policeman Gopal Badane granted bail

Gopal Badane, accused in a doctor's suicide case, is granted bail by the Bombay High Court amid ongoing investigations.

Five months after a 28-year-old government doctor ended her life, accused Gopal Badane — dismissed Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) — has been granted bail. He was charged for the abetment of suicide. 

The Court ordered bail to Gopal Badane on the grounds that the investigation is complete and a charge-sheet has been filed, while the trial is expected to take a long time to start as prosecutor plans to examine many witnesses, hence accused may not be necessary to be in custody. 

“It is pertinent to note that apart from the suicide note, implicating the applicant regarding the offence of rape, there is absence of detailed allegation or time of the incident. Given that the applicant and the deceased were in relation with each other, the alleged act of physical relations, if any, cannot be prima facie treated as non-consensual.

“Nevertheless, the investigation is complete for all intent and purpose and the charge-sheet is filed to that effect. Having regard to the number of witnesses which the prosecution proposes to examine, the trial is unlikely to commence and conclude within a reasonable period. So far as the apprehension expressed by the learned APP is concerned, the same can be adequately taken care of by imposing stringent conditions,” the Kolhapur Bench of Bombay High Court mentioned in the order dated on April 1. 

The accused Badane is released on bail on condition to pay bond of ₹50,000/- with one or two local solvent sureties. The case has been registered with Phaltan Police Station in Satara District and booked under the Sections 64(2)(m)(circumstances where an act may not amount to an offence) and 108 (abetment) of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on the conditions that the “applicant shall not pressurise the prosecution witnesses and tamper with the prosecution evidence, in any manner” and “attend the trial on each date”. 

Gopal Badane filed bail application with court arguing that he was falsely implicated in the alleged crime and he had met the victim in the course of his duty. “Moreover, the alleged chats between the applicant and the victim dates back before the alleged incident. Owing to previous prelude, the present false case is registered against the applicant,” the order read.