SHIV SENA corporator Ramesh Mhatre and three of his associates have been arrested for allegedly assaulting doctors and medical staff at a civic-run hospital in Thane district of Maharashtra amid an outrage and political row, forcing the Eknath Shinde-led party to promise disciplinary action. Mhatre was taken into custody on Wednesday in connection with the criminal offence registered against him and his aides at Vishnunagar police station. His three aides were arrested on Tuesday night, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Kalyan, Atul Zende. Further investigation is underway, he added. A video of Mhatre and his associates purportedly assaulting two doctors and other staff at the Shastri Nagar Hospital, run by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) on Monday evening, evoked sharp reactions from the medical fraternity and Opposition parties. The footage shows Mhatre allegedly unleashing a series of slaps and punches on a helpless doctor and banging a register on his head. He also allegedly hit a female doctor on her hand.

 

The attack followed medical advice to a family to shift their newborn to another facility, according to police. Doctors Srishti Bawiskar and Vaibhav Salunkhe had advised the relatives of a newborn to shift the baby to another facility due to a lack of space in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the local hospital. Angered by this, the relatives contacted the corporator. Dr Salunkhe suffered injuries in the incident. KDMC Medical Health Officer Dr Deepa Shukla, along with the medical staff, approached the police late Monday night, but the case was not lodged. Meanwhile, hospital workers staged a “work-stop” protest on Tuesday. A delegation of IMA Kalyan and Dombivli units and representatives of the civic workers’ union met KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goyal. A case was finally registered against Mhatre and five others on Tuesday night, following public outrage and pressure from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which threatened to shut clinics and hospitals in the area if immediate action was not taken.

 

The Shiv Sena leader, his four male supporters, and a woman were booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(1) (criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 189(2) (unlawful assembly) and 191(2) (rioting), police said. The Opposition targeted the BJP-led Mahayuti government, wondering whether Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would tolerate such "hooliganism". "Will he arrest the goon of the 'mindhe' gang and dismiss him from his seat as a Corporator? Or does he send out a signal to not just doctors and nurses but to everyone that Maharashtra sees such lawlessness and is ok with it?" Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray stated on X. Facing flak amid allegations of shielding Mhatre, Shiv Sena MP from Kalyan, Dr Shrikant Shinde, attempted damage control and condemned the attack.

 

"As a doctor myself, I know that patient service is not merely a job but a service to humanity. In extremely adverse and stressful conditions, doctors, nurses, and other health workers labour day and night for the public's service," he said in a post on X. "The party's stance on this matter is also clear. The party will not support any individual involved in this attack. Strict disciplinary action will also be taken within the party against those found guilty," the MP said. Meanwhile, Thane Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske issued a statement from Delhi, distancing the party from the corporator's actions and confirming that internal disciplinary proceedings have been initiated. "The party has not supported the incident that occurred, nor will it ever support it.

 

The assault was indeed committed by Mhatre. Even though he is a senior leader who has been elected five to six times, the party will not condone this behaviour," Mhaske stated. He said the party leadership has served a show-cause notice to the accused corporator. "The top leadership of the party will make the final decision regarding disciplinary action. Our disciplinary committee will decide on the exact course of action. Furthermore, the party will not interfere or hold back anywhere when it comes to legal action by the law enforcement agencies," Mhaske said, adding that the law must take its own course. The assault took place exactly a year after Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad allegedly slapped an employee at the MLAs' hostel canteen in Mumbai after being served stale food, drawing condemnation from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as well as the opposition parties. Gaikwad, the MLA from Buldhana, had brazenly defended his conduct, saying he was compelled for the "Shiv Sena style" of response as his earlier complaints about the food's quality were not addressed, and asserted he does not regret his action.