3 weeks ago
Shiv Sena Corporator Ramesh Mhatre Gets Bail, Exiled Until Chargesheet
In Mumbai, three doctors were hurt at a hospital in July.
People say it happened after a family got upset because they thought a pregnant woman had to wait too long for treatment.
One of the people accused of hurting the doctors is a city politician named Ramesh Mhatre.
A lower court first let him go free, but a bigger court called the Bombay High Court said that decision was wrong and cancelled his bail.
Later, the High Court changed its mind and said the politician could be free for now, but with strict rules.
He and the other accused must leave the whole state of Maharashtra until the police finish their report.
They also have to check in with the police three times every week and cannot talk to witnesses.
The judges said elected leaders who hurt voters damage democracy, and the doctors should get police protection and a fast, fair trial.
Mr. Mhatre got out of jail on Saturday and went to Goa to wait.
The Bombay High Court granted bail to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and co-accused over the July 6 assault on three doctors at Shastri Nagar Hospital; reports differ on the number of co-accused (three associates vs. four other accused).
Bail conditions require Mhatre and the co-accused to remain outside Maharashtra until the chargesheet is filed — expected within 15 days — and to report three times a week to a local police station in their place of residence.
The court said the accused may return to Maharashtra only when the trial court frames charges, and they must not contact witnesses or tamper with evidence.
Mhatre was released from Adharwadi jail in Kalyan on Saturday at 4.30 pm — an hour ahead of the usual release window — prompting renewed concerns over VIP treatment; he gave a stiff stare to NDTV's questions and then left for Goa.
The court had taken suo motu cognisance on July 18, calling the lower court's bail decision 'perverse' given Mhatre's 18 past assault cases, and ordered a fast-track trial, police protection for the doctors, and a permanent Special Public Prosecutor.
- Who
- Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and his co-accused, granted bail by a Bombay High Court bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad; the victims are three doctors.
- What
- Bail was granted with strict conditions, including staying outside Maharashtra until the chargesheet is filed, reporting to police three times a week, and a fast-track trial.
- Where
- Bombay High Court, Mumbai; Adharwadi jail in Kalyan; the assault occurred at Shastri Nagar Hospital under the Kalyan-Dombivili Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in Dombivli, Maharashtra.
- When
- Bail was granted on Friday and Mhatre was released from jail on Saturday; the assault took place on July 6, Mhatre was arrested on July 8, the sessions court granted bail on July 14, the High Court cancelled it on July 18, and he surrendered on July 19.
- Why
- The assault allegedly followed an argument over delayed treatment for a pregnant woman, whose family was asked to transfer her to another medical centre because there were no beds available in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Accountability of elected representatives
Trigger behind the confrontation
Cause of the confrontation
Accountability of elected representatives
The court condemned the assault, observing that if an elected representative assaults voters, 'such a situation will dent the very fabric of democracy,' and ordered police protection for the doctors and no disciplinary action against them.
Trigger behind the confrontation
The confrontation followed an argument over an alleged delay in treating a pregnant woman; her family members had accused hospital staff of delaying treatment and were asked to transfer her to another medical centre because there were no NICU beds available.
Bail justification
Accountability of elected representatives
The High Court had earlier cancelled the sessions court's bail, calling it 'perverse' given Mhatre's history of 18 past assault cases.
Trigger behind the confrontation
The court later granted bail because the investigation was being carried out at a fast pace and the accused had already spent a considerable amount of time behind bars.
Key facts
- Accused
- Ramesh Mhatre and three associates (one report says four other accused)
- Victims
- Three doctors at Shastri Nagar Hospital
- Incident date
- July 6
- Location
- Shastri Nagar Hospital, Kalyan-Dombivili Municipal Corporation (KDMC), Dombivli, Maharashtra
- Bail conditions
- Stay outside Maharashtra until the chargesheet is filed; report three times a week to a local police station; return only after charges are framed; no contact with witnesses
- Chargesheet timeline
- Expected within 15 days
- Mhatre's past cases
- 18 prior assault cases
- Court orders
- Suo motu cognisance on July 18; police protection for doctors; no disciplinary action over post-incident absence; fast-track trial with a permanent Special Public Prosecutor
Quotes
Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad
Bench of the Bombay High Court
“"The accused will be allowed to return to Maharashtra only when the trial court frames charges in the case. Even then, they shall not contact the witnesses in the case or tamper with any evidence."”
NDTV
“The rule of democracy is elected representatives are by the people and for the people. But if any elected representative assaults voters, such a situation will dent the very fabric of democracy.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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