Shiv Sena Corporator Granted Bail After Assault on Dombivli Doctors

A court in Kalyan, Maharashtra, has granted bail to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre following his arrest for allegedly assaulting healthcare professionals at a local civic hospital in Dombivli. The incident, which occurred on July 6, involved Mhatre and his associates reportedly attacking doctors at the Shastri Nagar Hospital after a dispute regarding the treatment of a family member.

After being taken into custody on Monday, Mhatre was remanded to judicial custody until his bail application was heard in court on Tuesday. His legal counsel argued that the corporator has faced numerous past charges, but in most cases, he has either been acquitted or had the charges dismissed. They emphasized that currently, only one criminal case remains active against him, suggesting that the police’s concerns about his potential threat to the complainant doctor were overstated.

The police opposed the bail, citing Mhatre’s alleged criminal history, which includes multiple first information reports (FIRs). They contended that allowing his release could jeopardize the safety of medical staff at the hospital, highlighting the severity of the attack on healthcare professionals. Furthermore, they argued that such assaults on doctors should not be taken lightly and warranted a denial of bail.

In response, Mhatre’s lawyer proposed that the court could impose specific conditions to mitigate any risks associated with granting bail. Additionally, it was noted during the hearing that Mhatre has significant health issues, including having only one kidney, which raised concerns about his well-being while in custody.

Ultimately, the court decided to grant Mhatre bail, setting a bond amount of Rs 50,000. This decision has sparked discussions about the ongoing issue of violence against medical personnel in India, where incidents of aggression towards healthcare workers have been on the rise, prompting calls for stricter laws to protect those serving in the medical field.

Source: scroll.in