The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the bail granted to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre in connection with the alleged assault of doctors at a civic healthcare facility in Thane district, directing him to turn himself in within three days.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta admitted an appeal lodged by the Maharashtra government challenging the Bombay High Court’s August 7 order that had released Mhatre on bail.
Protection for Healthcare Personnel
During the hearing, the bench stressed the need to safeguard the medical community, stating that a firm message must be sent that healthcare professionals serve the public and cannot be subjected to physical attacks. The court also observed that another similar incident involving the same political party occurred following the episode involving Mhatre.
The judges further pointed to the corporator’s criminal background, highlighting that he has been named in 19 criminal cases, including the current matter.
Defense Cites Ongoing Trial and Past Acquittals
Appearing on behalf of Mhatre, Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave submitted that the criminal complaints against his client were politically motivated, noting that Mhatre had secured acquittals in 18 of those 19 matters.
Dave also argued that the ongoing trial was progressing without hindrance, with two witnesses already examined and the complainant, a woman doctor, scheduled to take the stand on October 3. Addressing the defense counsel’s request regarding the High Court’s order for an expedited trial, the Supreme Court stated that it was not offering any comment on the timeline direction while putting the bail order on hold.
Background of the Hospital Confrontation
The prosecution stems from an incident on July 6 at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Thane, where family members of a pregnant woman accused medical personnel of delaying her treatment. Following the dispute, Mhatre and several others gathered at the municipal hospital and assaulted duty doctors.
The confrontation sparked widespread public outrage across the state in July. On August 7, the Bombay High Court granted bail to Mhatre and four co-accused while instructing that the trial be fast-tracked and concluded in a time-bound manner.
