Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre arrested after doctor assault video sparks massive outrage
MUMBAI: Amid mounting outrage over the assault on doctors and medical staff at a civic hospital in Thane district, the Vishnu Nagar police on Wednesday arrested Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre, the main accused in the case, officials said.The arrest came after the incident triggered widespread protests by the medical fraternity, with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) calling for the suspension of routine outpatient (OPD) services across KDMC-run hospitals and several private hospitals in Kalyan-Dombivli.While emergency services continued uninterrupted, doctors demanded the immediate arrest of all those involved and strict enforcement of the Maharashtra Medicare Act.Mhatre had been named in the FIR registered on the complaint of doctor Vaibhav Salunkhe under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2010.Deputy commissioner of police Atul Zende confirmed Mhatre’s arrest.Police had earlier arrested three of Mhatre’s alleged associates — Akshay Karande, Ramesh Pawar and Pramod Nikam — in connection with the assault.The incident took place on Monday evening at the KDMC-run Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli after the family of a newborn allegedly became agitated when doctors advised them to shift the infant to another medical facility for specialised treatment.According to police, Mhatre, a corporator of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, along with his associates, allegedly assaulted two doctors and other hospital staff. A video of the incident, purportedly showing Mhatre hitting doctors, went viral on social media, triggering widespread condemnation from the medical fraternity.A case was subsequently registered against Mhatre and five others.Earlier in the day, before his arrest, Mhatre expressed regret over the altercation but denied allegations that he assaulted a female doctor.“I regret the physical altercation that took place. I state with full confidence that I did not raise my hand against the female doctor. What appears in the CCTV footage might look that way due to the camera angle,” he said.Mhatre claimed he addressed the doctor informally because he considered her “like a daughter” and alleged that while they were speaking, she continued talking on the phone instead of listening to their grievance.“I tapped her hand. We have been guided by Balasaheb’s teachings; we have never raised a hand against women, nor will we ever do so in the future,” he said.He further attributed the incident to “systemic shortcomings” in the hospital and said efforts would be made to address them.Mhatre also said the people who had taken him to the hospital could provide more details about the incident. He claimed the person who had called him to the spot did not answer his subsequent calls and that he reached the hospital after realising the seriousness of the situation.
