Supreme Court cancels Shiv Sena corporator’s bail in doctors assault case

The Supreme Court on Monday cancelled the bail granted to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre, who was accused of assaulting doctors at a municipal hospital in Thane district. The court directed Mhatre to surrender within three days. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said the medical fraternity serves people and cannot be attacked. The court admitted the Maharashtra government's appeal against the Bombay High Court's bail order for hearing.

The assault took place on July 6 at the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation-run Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli. Mhatre and his aides allegedly attacked on-duty doctors after family members of a pregnant woman complained of delay in treatment. Mhatre was arrested on July 8 and initially granted bail by a sessions court on July 14. The Bombay High Court later stayed that order, then granted conditional bail on August 7, which the Supreme Court has now cancelled.

Mhatre's lawyer argued that the accused was cooperating with the trial and that two witnesses had been examined. The court noted Mhatre's criminal antecedents, with 19 cases pending against him. The victim's family and medical associations welcomed the decision, calling it a deterrent against violence toward healthcare workers.