Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Bombay High Court Warns Crime Branch Over Palghar Hospital Probe
The Bombay High Court is examining violence at a hospital in Palghar.
The incident allegedly happened after injured Dahi Handi participants were taken there for treatment.
Some Shiv Sena workers reportedly complained that the hospital charged too much.
They allegedly damaged the hospital, threatened doctors and hurt staff members.
They also allegedly took injured people out of an intensive care unit.
Police arrested Rahul Gharat, but nine other named suspects were still missing.
The judges said the police investigation seemed too slow and careless.
They warned that another police agency might take over the case if the investigation did not improve.
The Bombay High Court criticized Palghar police for an allegedly inefficient and casual investigation into violence at Relief Hospital.
Police said Rahul Gharat was the only one of 10 named accused arrested, while nine others remained absconding.
The FIR names 17 people, including Shiv Sena leaders Kundan Sankhe and Rahul Gharat, Rajendra Gavit’s son and Rohit Gavit; seven accused are unidentified.
The alleged September 5–6 incident involved vandalism, threats to doctors, assaults on staff and the forcible removal of injured patients from an ICU.
The court warned it could transfer the investigation to the Mumbai Crime Branch and ordered further explanations before Friday’s hearing.
- Who
- The Bombay High Court, Palghar police, hospital staff and people accused of involvement, including Rahul Gharat and Kundan Sankhe.
- What
- The court criticized the investigation into alleged hospital vandalism, threats to doctors, assaults on staff and the removal of injured patients from an ICU.
- When
- The alleged incident occurred between the night of September 5 and September 6, 2026; the court hearing took place on September 9, 2026, with another hearing scheduled for Friday.
- Where
- The alleged violence occurred at Relief Hospital in Palghar, Maharashtra; the matter was heard by the Bombay High Court.
- Why
- The alleged attackers reportedly entered the hospital after claiming that it was charging excessive fees for treating injured Dahi Handi participants.
Court’s concerns
Police and political response
Quality of the investigation
Court’s concerns
The court said Palghar police appeared to have conducted virtually no investigation after registering the FIR and described the approach as inefficient, lax and unacceptable.
Police and political response
Palghar Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh told the court that one named accused had been arrested and nine others remained absconding.
Failure to locate suspects
Court’s concerns
The judges questioned why the nine absconding accused had not been traced and said police laxity appeared to have allowed them to remain at large.
Police and political response
The police reported the status of the accused, while Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray said the Director General of Police would obtain the records and take appropriate action regarding the officers concerned.
Who should investigate
Court’s concerns
The court warned that it could hand the case to the Mumbai Crime Branch if Palghar police did not investigate it properly.
Police and political response
The prosecution was directed to produce relevant DGP circulars, and the investigating officer was asked to explain the alleged investigative failures.
Political response to the alleged violence
Court’s concerns
The court highlighted the sensitivity of a case involving alleged hospital vandalism, assaults on staff and threats to doctors.
Police and political response
Eknath Shinde suspended Palghar chief Rahul Gharat two days after the incident and said his party did not and would not condone violence against doctors or healthcare professionals.
- Court bench
- Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata of the Bombay High Court
- Incident site
- Relief Hospital, Palghar
- Arrests
- Rahul Gharat was arrested and was in police custody
- Remaining named accused
- Police said nine of the 10 named accused remained absconding
- FIR
- The FIR names 17 people, including seven unidentified accused
- Possible probe transfer
- The court warned it could transfer the investigation to the Mumbai Crime Branch
- Next hearing
- The matter was scheduled to be heard again on Friday
