Bombay HC Grants Bail to Shiv Sena Corporator in Doctor Assault Case
Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre was released from jail on Saturday evening after the Bombay High Court granted him bail in the case involving the assault of doctors at a Mumbai hospital. The court, however, imposed strict conditions, including a directive to stay outside Maharashtra until the chargesheet is filed.
Mhatre walked out of jail at 4:30 pm, about an hour earlier than the usual release time, and was greeted by a group of workers and an Innova car waiting outside the gate. The early release prompted questions about possible preferential treatment, though no official explanation was provided.
Speaking briefly to reporters after his release, Mhatre said the matter was now before the Bombay High Court and that he would abide by the court's decision. He then left for Goa, where he plans to remain until the police file the chargesheet in the case.
The bail was granted by a bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad, which also allowed bail for four other accused in the same case. The court ordered that the trial be fast-tracked and completed within a time-bound manner.
The bench made strong observations about the responsibilities of elected officials. It noted that an elected corporator is believed to be 'for the people and by the people' and added that if such a person assaults his own voters, it constitutes an assault on the fabric of democracy itself.
However, the court considered that the investigation was progressing at a fast pace and that the accused had already spent time in jail, and thus found it appropriate to grant bail. The accused will be allowed to return to Maharashtra only after the trial court frames charges. They are also prohibited from contacting witnesses or tampering with evidence.
The incident occurred on July 6 at Shastri Nagar Hospital, where Mhatre and the others allegedly assaulted doctors after an argument over an alleged delay in treating a woman patient. The patient's family had accused the hospital staff of delaying treatment, leading to the confrontation. The attack triggered widespread outrage among the medical community and prompted protests across the state.
The bail hearing, originally scheduled for Monday, was advanced to Saturday, a court holiday, and concluded with the release. The legal process continues as the police prepare the chargesheet in the case.
