Court Imposes Strict Bail Conditions
The Bombay High Court has granted bail to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and four other accused in the doctors’ assault case at a municipal hospital in Dombivli, Thane district.
The court imposed strict conditions and ordered the trial court to follow a fast-track process.
Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad passed the order on Friday. The bench directed the accused to stay outside Maharashtra until police file the chargesheet. The court said the restriction would help investigators complete the probe without interference.
The case sparked widespread public outrage after CCTV footage allegedly showing the assault on doctors and hospital staff circulated on social media.
Court Warns Elected Representatives
While granting bail, the High Court made strong observations about the responsibilities of elected representatives.
The bench said voters elect a corporator to serve the public, not to intimidate or assault citizens. The judges observed that when an elected representative allegedly attacks voters, the incident affects the democratic fabric of society.
However, the court also noted that investigators had made significant progress and that the accused had already spent considerable time in judicial custody.
The court therefore granted bail but imposed several restrictions. The accused cannot enter Maharashtra until police file the chargesheet. After they return, they cannot contact witnesses, influence the investigation or tamper with evidence.
Court Sets Investigation and Trial Timeline
The Bombay High Court also set specific deadlines for the investigation and trial.
The court directed police to complete the investigation within 12 working days after receiving pending reports from the State Forensic Science Laboratory.
Police must then file the chargesheet within five days of receiving the forensic reports.
After police file the chargesheet, the trial court must frame charges within one week. The High Court also instructed the prosecution and defence to avoid unnecessary adjournments and ensure that the trial moves forward without unnecessary delays.
These directions aim to speed up the judicial process in a case that has attracted significant attention from doctors and the public.
Background of the Doctors’ Assault Case
The incident occurred on July 7 at Shastri Nagar Municipal Hospital in Dombivli.
According to police, Ramesh Mhatre and his associates allegedly assaulted two doctors and several hospital staff members.
The alleged assault followed a dispute over the treatment of a nine-month pregnant woman who faced pregnancy-related complications. Police alleged that the hospital could not admit her because the civic hospital had no available beds in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The incident triggered protests from doctors and medical associations across Maharashtra. Medical professionals demanded strict action against those responsible for the alleged attack.
Earlier Legal Developments
The case took another turn when a magistrate’s court initially granted bail to Mhatre. The Bombay High Court later took suo motu cognisance of the matter and stayed the bail order because of concerns over the seriousness of the allegations.
Following the High Court’s intervention, Mhatre surrendered to police and remained in judicial custody.
The latest order now allows Mhatre and the other accused to leave custody, subject to the conditions imposed by the court.
Medical Community Seeks Stronger Protection
The alleged attack raised concerns about the safety of healthcare professionals working in public hospitals. Medical organisations argued that violence against doctors has become a serious concern and called for stronger legal action to deter such incidents.
By setting a time-bound investigation and trial, the Bombay High Court has sought to protect the legal rights of the accused while also ensuring that the case moves through the judicial system quickly.
The case will remain under public and medical community scrutiny as investigators complete the probe and the trial process begins.