Dombivli hospital assault case: Bail of Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre cancelled

The court directed Mhatre and the other accused to surrender before the authorities by 5 pm on Sunday.

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Saturday cancelled the bail granted to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and his aides in connection with the alleged assault on doctors, nurses and hospital staff at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli.Mhatre has been directed to surrender before authorities by 5 pm on Sunday, July 19, according to news agency ANI. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghughe and Justice Gautam Ankhad took suo motu cognisance of the matter after a magistrate's court in Kalyan granted bail to Mhatre. The High Court stayed the lower court's order, citing the "gravity and seriousness of the issue and the perversity" noticed in the order. The matter will next be heard on July 22. The court also observed that if Mhatre fails to surrender or cannot be traced, authorities would be free to follow due legal procedure, including initiating steps to attach his immovable properties. Mhatre, the prime accused in the case, had been granted bail on July 14 on a personal bond of Rs 50,000. The magistrate's court had granted relief after taking into account Mhatre's medical condition, as he was hospitalised following his arrest.

His counsel, MK Qazi, had said that the defence addressed the objections raised by the prosecution and that the court granted bail after hearing arguments from both sides. The case stems from the July 6 alleged assault on doctors and nurses at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli, an incident that sparked widespread protests and condemnation from the medical fraternity. Mhatre was arrested under Sections 132 and 121(1) in connection with an FIR registered at Vishnunagar Police Station in Dombivli. According to police, four accused have been arrested in the case so far.