On Friday, July 10, Thane police arrested Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre in connection with the alleged assault on doctors and nurses at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli, a civic-run facility under the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation.

Mhatre was taken into custody after being discharged from Thane Civil Hospital, where he had been admitted following complaints of chest pain.

A Kalyan court later remanded him and three co-accused to police custody until Monday.

Also Read | Ram Mandir tightens donation counting rules after theft row

Tempers quite lost their manners

The incident took place on July 6 after doctors advised the family of a pregnant woman to shift her to another hospital because neonatal intensive care unit beds at the facility were full.

The family then contacted Mhatre, who allegedly arrived with associates and confronted the hospital staff.

Police have booked Mhatre and his associates under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including assaulting a public servant, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, intentional insult, unlawful assembly, and rioting.

His version enters the fray

Mhatre has denied assaulting the woman doctor while acknowledging that an altercation took place.

In a statement reported by The Indian Express, he said, “I regret the physical altercation that took place, but I state again that I did not raise my hand against the female doctor.”

He also said, “She was on the phone and not listening to our grievances, so I tapped her hand.”

The assault sparked statewide demonstrations by the medical fraternity. Resident doctors and nurses warned of stronger action if accountability was not ensured.

The Maharashtra State Association of Resident Doctors backed the arrest and said government medical college doctors would continue work while wearing black ribbons.

The Maharashtra State Nurses Association also began a three-day black-ribbon protest, seeking stronger security and legal action.

Fear lingers long after the fracas

The resident medical officer, who allegedly faced assault, reported living in fear for two days after receiving threatening calls and messages. He alleged that unknown persons were following him.

Two doctors who were allegedly assaulted highlighted safety concerns and a lack of institutional support.

The doctor highlighted, “We don’t want to work in a place where there’s no assurance of security.”

What led to Mhatre’s police custody?

On Thursday, July 9, a Kalyan court rejected Mhatre’s request to appear via video conferencing and also denied the police’s initial request for custody remand because he had not been produced before the court.

The court directed police to bring him in person if they wanted custodial interrogation, which led to Friday’s fresh production after his discharge from hospital.

A senior Thane Civil Hospital doctor said that Mhatre had been discharged around 9 am and was stable, with no further episodes of blood pressure fluctuation, vomiting, or breathlessness.

Police said he would be produced before the court, while the investigation into the alleged assault continues.

Also Read | From Australia to the US: Who is returning India’s stolen artefacts?

FAQs

Q1: Why was Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre arrested?

Ramesh Mhatre was arrested for allegedly assaulting doctors and nurses at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli following a dispute over the treatment of a pregnant patient.

Q2: Why are doctors protesting in the Thane doctor assault case?

Doctors and nurses across Maharashtra launched protests demanding stronger security in hospitals and strict action against those accused in the assault case.