Bombay High Court cancels bail of Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre in doctors assault case

The Bombay High Court on Saturday stayed the bail granted to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre in the alleged assault on doctors at a civic hospital in Dombivli, directing him to surrender before police by Sunday evening. The court also suspended the bail of four other accused in the case and sharply criticised the lower court's decision.

A special bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad convened on Saturday after taking suo motu cognisance of media reports highlighting the incident and the bail order. The judges said the matter warranted urgent judicial attention because of its seriousness and its wider impact on the medical community.

The High Court described the Kalyan magistrate's order granting bail to Mhatre as "perverse" and observed that the trial court had failed to properly examine both the gravity of the allegations and the accused's criminal antecedents before granting relief.

According to the court, Mhatre and four others are accused of assaulting two doctors and nursing staff at a municipal hospital in Dombivli on the night of July 6. The alleged attack occurred after the family of a newborn was advised to shift the infant to another medical facility for further treatment.

The High Court noted that several assault cases had previously been registered against Mhatre and observed that these antecedents should have been considered while deciding the bail application. It also questioned why the magistrate had not imposed conditions such as requiring the accused to regularly report to the police or cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

Staying the bail order until further hearing, the bench warned that if Mhatre failed to surrender by Sunday evening, authorities could initiate proceedings to attach his immovable properties in accordance with law.

The court also cancelled the bail granted to the four co-accused arrested in connection with the alleged assault.

The case has drawn widespread attention from the medical fraternity, with doctors across Maharashtra announcing plans to abstain from work on July 22 in protest against the grant of bail to the accused.

While setting aside the bail order for the time being, the High Court appealed to doctors working in government and civic hospitals to reconsider the proposed strike, saying uninterrupted healthcare services remain vital in the larger public interest.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 21, when the High Court is expected to examine the case in greater detail.