“I regret altercation, but didn’t hit woman doctor”: Shiv Sena corporator on Thane hospital assault

3 min readMumbaiUpdated: Jul 8, 2026 05:19 PM IST

Shiv Sena’s Kalyan MP Dr Shrikant Eknath Shinde's remarks came as the Thane police arrested three associates of Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre in connection with Thane medical staff assault incident. (Special arrangement photos/ Image enhanced using AI)

Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre on Wednesday issued his first public response since being named an accused in the alleged assault on doctors and medical staff at the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation’s (KDMC) Shastri Nagar Hospital, expressing regret over the incident but denying allegations that he assaulted a woman doctor.

“I regret the physical altercation that took place but I state again that I did not raise my hand against the female doctor. You are seeing the incident through a particular camera angle of the CCTV,” Mhatre said.

Mhatre, who has been named as an absconding accused by the Thane police, claimed the doctor was speaking on the phone while he was trying to raise the family’s concerns.

“She was on the phone and not listening to our grievances, so I tapped her hand. We follow Balasaheb’s teachings; we have never raised a hand against women, nor will we ever do so in the future,” he claimed, adding that the incident occurred due to shortcomings within the hospital that need to be addressed.

The corporator said he had gone to the hospital after receiving a call from the family of a pregnant woman who had allegedly been referred elsewhere because of the unavailability of beds in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

“I had to go after realising the gravity of the situation. Since my phone was not answered, I went there,” he said, claiming hospital staff did not respond to his calls.

Mhatre also defended his use of the informal Marathi pronoun “Tu” while addressing the doctor, saying it was not intended to be disrespectful.

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“The reason why I am calling the doctor as ‘Tu,’ is not out of arrogance but I consider her as my daughter,” he said.

The incident at the KDMC-run Shastri Nagar Hospital on Monday night triggered widespread condemnation and protests by healthcare workers. Doctors and hospital staff have alleged that Mhatre and his supporters assaulted them following a dispute over the referral of a pregnant patient.

On Wednesday, the Thane police arrested three of Mhatre’s associates in connection with the assault. Police said Mhatre and another woman named in the FIR remain absconding, and teams have been formed to trace them.

The incident also sparked political reactions, with Maharashtra Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar condemning the assault and saying disagreements cannot justify violence. Shiv Sena MP Dr Shrikant Eknath Shinde distanced the party from the incident, saying no one involved would be protected, while Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray demanded strict action against those responsible.

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Resident doctors and nurses have meanwhile announced statewide protests, warning of an intensified agitation if those responsible are not arrested.