Payal Tadvi Suicide: Mother moves Bombay High Court against removal of Special Public Prosecutor

Abeda Tadvi, the mother of Dr Payal Tadvi, a Dalit doctor who died by suicide due to caste-based discrimination at her medical college in Mumbai, has filed a petition before the Bombay High Court challenging the State’s decision to remove Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Pradeep Gharat from the case..A Bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale heard the case on Wednesday and directed the State to take instructions and respond to the plea by April 2, when the matter will be heard next..Tadvi, a 26-year-old second year resident doctor at BYL Nair Hospital was pursuing her master's degree, when she allegedly faced continuous caste abuse and harassment by three senior resident doctors at her college (Topiwala National Medical College). Despite repeated complaints from her and family, no action was taken.On May 22, 2019, she died by suicide and a case was registered under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act..The accused doctors were arrested and later granted bail by the High Court. In 2020, advocate Pradeep Gharat was appointed as the Special Public Prosecutor. Advocate Gharat has been handling the case diligently, including securing a crucial ruling in 2025 to implead Prof Ching Ling, a professor at the college, as an accused.However, the Maharashtra government revoked his appointment on March 7 this year without any reasons or prior consultation with the petitioner and replaced him with advocate Mahesh Mule. .Tadvi in her plea filed through advocate Lara Jesani has argued that the removal was arbitrary and unjustifiable, especially considering advocate Gharat’s effective handling of the case. As per the plea, the removal of advocate Gharat violates the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, which require reasons to be recorded in writing for such a decision. The timing of the removal shortly after the order to implead Prof. Ching Ling raises suspicions of malice, it has been contended."The Petitioner states that Advocate Pradip Gharat has diligently conducted the case and the latest order dated 28th February 2025 impleading Dr. Ching Ling as an accused in the case was also a direct result of his application and arguments.", the plea reads. "Having a good Special Public Prosecutor who will diligently handle the case is crucial for securing justice in the Death of the Petitioner's daughter and such crimes based on caste. Advocate Pradip Charat has been effectively handling the case since his appointment and has been fulfilling his duty well as a Special Public Prosecutor," the petitioner has submitted..The petitioner has sought quashing of the government notification dated March 7 and the reinstatement of advocate Pradeep Gharat as Special Public Prosecutor. The petitioner has also sought stay on the implementation of the notification and the proceedings in the ongoing case, asserting that the removal of the prosecutor will cause further delays in securing justice for her daughter.