Date: 2025-12-03Category: Not ApplicableState: MaharashtraCountry: India
भाग चार-अ, असा. क्रमांक ५३८, HOME DEPARTMENT, NOTIFICATION,
COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ACT, 1952. No. PRO-1125/CR 51/SPL-2 (E:1446837) Wednesday, 3rd December 2025.
**Executive Summary**
This document is a notification from the Home Department of the Government of Maharashtra, dated December 2nd, 2025, officially establishing a single-member Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952. The inquiry pertains to the suicide of Dr. Sampada Shrikisan Munde in Phaltan, District Satara on October 23rd, 2025. The Commission is required to submit its report within three months from the date of publication of this notification.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Commission Establishment:**
* A single-member Commission of Inquiry is established by the Government of Maharashtra.
* The Commission is established under Section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.
* Shri Sanjay Mehare, Justice (Retired), Bombay High Court will be the single member.
* **Terms of Reference:** The Commission is tasked with the following:
* Investigating the sequence of events surrounding the suicide of Dr. Sampada Shrikisan Munde.
* Determining if any individual, group, or organization was directly or indirectly responsible for the incident.
* Evaluating the appropriateness of the police's handling of the situation.
* Conducting a detailed examination of all related aspects and events.
* Inquiring into all other incident-related issues provided by the State Government.
* Suggesting short-term and long-term measures to prevent recurrence.
* **Legal Provisions:**
* Sub-sections (2), (3), (4) and (5) of section 5 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 shall apply to the Commission of Inquiry.
* **Reporting and Logistics:**
* The Commission must submit its report within three months from the publication date of the notification.
* The Commission determines its own headquarters and regulates its procedure.
* The terms and conditions of appointment and emoluments of the commission will be issued separately.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government of Maharashtra**
* **Impact**
* Responsible for overseeing the inquiry. The Maharashtra Government will review the Commission's report and consider its recommendations.
* **Action Required**
* The Government will need to receive and review the report within the stipulated timeframe.
* Must issue separate terms and conditions of appointment of the commission and emoluments.
**Police Department**
* **Impact**
* Their actions in handling the situation will be scrutinized by the Commission to determine if they were appropriate.
* **Action Required**
* The Police Department must cooperate with the Commission and provide any requested information related to the incident.
**Family and Associates of Dr. Sampada Shrikisan Munde**
* **Impact**
* The inquiry may provide answers and closure regarding the circumstances surrounding Dr. Munde's death.
* **Action Required**
* The family and associates may be asked to provide testimony or information to the Commission.
**Community of Phaltan, District Satara**
* **Impact**
* The results of the inquiry and any subsequent actions may affect public trust and confidence in local institutions.
* **Action Required**
* No direct action is specified, but the community may be interested in the findings of the inquiry.
Key Entities Referenced
Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952: Act under which the Commission of Inquiry is appointed and derives its power.
Commission of Inquiry: A single-member commission, led by Shri Sanjay Mehare, Justice (Retired), Bombay High Court, appointed to investigate the suicide of Dr. Sampada Shrikisan Munde.
Phaltan, District Satara: Location where the incident occurred, making it central to the inquiry's scope.
Home Department: The issuing department for this notification establishing the Commission of Inquiry.
RNI No. MAHBIL /2009/31733
महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र
असाधााराण भााग चाारा-अ
वर्षष ११, अंक १५१] बुुधावारा, डि�संबुरा ३, २०२५/अग्रहाायण १२, शाके १९४७ [पष्ृठे े२, डिकमं त : रुपय े१५.००
असाधााराण क्रमांक ५३८
प्रााडिधाकृत प्राकाशान
महाारााष्ट्र शाासनाने कंद्रीीय अडिधाडिनयमांन्वये तयारा केलेेलेे
(भााग एक, एक-अ आडिण एक-ले यांमध्ये प्राडिसद्ध केलेेलेे डिनयम व आदेेशा यांव्यडितरिराक्त) डिनयम व आदेेशा.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Mantralaya, Madam Cama Marg, Hutatma Rajguru Chowk,
Mumbai 400 032, dated the 2nd December 2025.
NOTIFICATION
Commission of inquiry ACt, 1952.
No. PRO-1125/CR 51/SPL-2 (E:1446837).—Whereas, an incident occurred at Phaltan, District
Satara on the 23rd October 2025, wherein between approximately 01-30 a.m. and 7-15 p.m., at
Room No. 114 of Madhudeep Hotel, Phaltan, District Satara, Dr. Sampada Shrikisan Munde, aged
29 years, serving at the Phaltan Sub-District Hospital, wrote on the palm of her left hand with a
pen the words: “Cause of death – Police Inspector Gopal Badane raped me four times and Prashant
Bankar subjected me to physical and mental harassment for four months. (मरणााचाे काारणा पोोलीीस नि�रिरक्षका
गोपोाली बद�े यांा��ी ४ वेेळाा rape काेलीा वे प्रशांा�त ब�कार यांा��ी ४ मनि��े शांारिररीका वे मा�निसका छळा काेलीा)” Thereafter, she committed
suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling fan using her dupatta ;
And whereas, the State Government having regard to the nature of incidents, being a definite
matter of public importance is of the opinion that it is necessary to inquire into the exact sequence of
the said incidents, causes thereof and the person or organization, if any, responsible for the same and
the role of the police machinery during the said incident, and also to identify the measures to prevent
recurrence of such incident through a Commission appointed under section 3 of the Commissions of
Inquiry Act, 1952 (60 of 1952).
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry
Act, 1952 (60 of 1952), the Government of Maharashtra hereby appoints a single member Commission
of Inquiry, for the purposes of making inquiry into the aforesaid incident, which is a definite matter
of public importance, consisting of following :—
Shri Sanjay Mehare, Justice (Retired), Bombay High Court.
भााग चाार-अ- ५३८–१ (१)2 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग चाारा-अ, डि�संबुरा ३, २०२५/अग्रहाायण १२, शाके १९४७
2. The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Commission of Inquiry shall be as under :—
(i) The sequence of events that happened at Phaltan, Dist. Satara on the 23rd October, 2025
regarding the commitment of suicide, which resulted into the death of Dr. Sampada Shrikisan
Munde, and the causes and consequences thereof.
(ii) Whether any individual or group of individuals or organization, if any, was seen directly
or indirectly responsible for said incident;
(iii) Whether the steps taken by the police in handling the aforesaid situation were
appropriate;
(iv) Conduct a detailed examination of all the related aspects and events of the above
incident;
(v) Conduct an inquiry into all other issues related to this incident provided by the State
Government.
(vi) To suggest a short term and long term measures to be taken in order to avoid
reoccurrence of such incident.
3. The Government of Maharashtra, in the context of aforesaid Terms of Reference and having
regard to the nature of inquiry to be made in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of
section 5 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, hereby directs that the provisions of sub-section
(2), (3), (4) and (5) of section 5 of the said Act, shall apply to the said Commission of Inquiry.
4. The Commission of Inquiry shall conduct the inquiry and submit the report within three
months from the date of publication of this notification in the Maharashtra Government Gazette.
The Commission of Inquiry shall determine its Headquarter and regulate its own procedure.
The terms and conditions of appointment of the Commission and the entitlement of emoluments
shall be issued separately.
By order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra,
CHETAN NIKAM,
Deputy Secretary to Government.
ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR,
RUPENDRA DINESH MORE, PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD,
MUMBAI 400 004 AND PUBLISHED AT DIRECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATIONS,
21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004. EDITOR : DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE.