Shiv Sena Corporator Hospitalised After Arrest for Allegedly Assaulting Doctors at Thane Hospital
Thane : A day after his arrest for allegedly assaulting doctors and hospital staff in Maharashtra’s Thane district, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) corporator Ramesh Mhatre was admitted to Thane Civil Hospital after reportedly experiencing health issues while in police custody.
According to police, Mhatre was shifted to the government-run hospital after medical services at the KDMC’s Rukmai and Shastrinagar hospitals were suspended following the incident. Authorities have not disclosed the exact nature of his medical condition.
The arrest stems from a violent altercation that took place on Monday evening at a civic-run hospital in Kalyan, where Mhatre and several of his supporters allegedly assaulted two doctors and other hospital staff. The confrontation reportedly began after doctors advised a family to shift a newborn baby to another medical facility for advanced treatment.
Videos of the incident quickly spread across social media, showing the corporator and his aides allegedly manhandling doctors and creating chaos inside the hospital. The footage triggered widespread outrage, with healthcare professionals and the public demanding strict action against those involved.
Following mounting pressure, including a warning from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to shut down clinics and hospitals in the area if action was not taken, police registered a criminal case against Mhatre and five others on Tuesday night. He was subsequently taken into custody.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Atul Zende confirmed that Mhatre was arrested in connection with the case registered at Vishnunagar Police Station. Police said the investigation is ongoing and further legal action will depend on the findings.
Mhatre Denies Assault Allegations
Despite the viral videos and the criminal case against him, Mhatre has denied physically attacking the doctors.
Speaking to the media after the incident, he claimed that he never assaulted the woman doctor and insisted that he merely knocked her mobile phone away because she was allegedly ignoring the family’s concerns.
“I did not attack the doctor. I only hit her phone because she was not listening to our complaint,” he said.
The corporator defended his actions, claiming that his intervention helped save the lives of a woman and her newborn child. He maintained that he had no regrets and said he would not apologise unless the doctors first apologised for what he described as their “arrogant behaviour.”
During a 26-minute interview, Mhatre repeatedly insisted that his actions were misunderstood and denied any intention to harm medical staff.
Doctor’s Family Demands Justice
The incident has deeply affected the assaulted doctor and her family.
Sangeeta Baviskar, mother of doctor Shruti Baviskar, welcomed Mhatre’s arrest but urged authorities to ensure that the investigation remains fair and transparent.
She said it was heartbreaking to watch her daughter being assaulted while she was simply carrying out her professional responsibilities.
“There was no negligence on her part. She was only explaining the medical situation to the patient’s family. Treating patients is a noble profession, and no doctor should have to face violence while doing their duty,” she said.
The assault has once again sparked nationwide concern over the increasing number of attacks on healthcare workers and renewed demands for stronger legal protection for doctors and hospital staff across the country.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
