Thane Court sends ex-corporator to police custody for assault on woman doctor

Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre produced before a court under heavy police protection after he along with his three aides were remanded in police custody till July 13 following their arrest for allegedly assaulting two doctors and medical staff at a civil hospital in Kalyan, Thane district, Maharashtra, on July 10, 2026. Photo credit: PTI

A Thane district sessions court has sent former Shiv Sena (Shinde group) corporator Ramesh Mhatre to police custody for four days in connection with the assault on a female doctor on duty at a hospital in Dombivli. The court’s decision comes after Mr Mhatre, who tried to avoid arrest by admitting himself to hospital citing chest pain, was declared fit for custody after a medical examination.

The case stems from an altercation at Shastrinagar Hospital in Dombivli. According to the complaint filed by the doctor, the former corporator barged into the premises and assaulted her after a dispute over the treatment of a patient. A police case has been registered against Mr. Mhatre under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

After registering a case, police teams tried to locate Mr. Mhatre for arrest. According to police sources, Mr Mhatre had approached the private CPR Hospital complaining of chest pain. He was admitted to the facility. The police subsequently reached the hospital and after a medical examination, the doctors at the hospital declared Mr. Mhatra medically fit. The police then took him into custody and brought him before the Magistrate’s Court.

In court, the prosecution sought police custody to investigate the motive for the attack and the sequence of events leading up to the incident. The defense attorney opposed custody. After hearing both sides, the court ordered that Mr Mhatre be kept in police custody for four days, with the next hearing scheduled for July 13.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and other local medical bodies welcomed the court’s decision. In a statement, the organizations called for stricter laws and their enforcement to prevent attacks on health workers. They raised the question of how doctors, especially women, can continue to work in an environment where they face such attacks. The arrests and subsequent detentions serve as a warning to others, according to the organizations.

The incident drew criticism from across the political spectrum. Opposition leaders attacked the state government and questioned the law and order situation. Aditya Thackeray, leader of the rival Shiv Sena faction, criticized the government, specifically targeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He questioned why the police seemed to act cautiously against ordinary citizens but show leniency towards members of the ruling alliance. He also criticized Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accusing him of shirking responsibility by resorting to hospitalization when political issues arise.

The case highlighted the wider problem of attacks on health workers in Maharashtra. The previous incidents had led the medical fraternity to call for a central law to protect doctors and hospital staff. The court’s decision in this case, where the former public representative is now in police custody, has become the subject of debate about the responsibility of public figures and the application of the law.

An earlier version of this article incorrectly mentioned Mr. Devendra Fadnavis as Deputy Chief Minister. It was fixed.

Published – 11 Jul 2026 11:53 IST