The Bombay High Court cancelled the bail of Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and ordered him to surrender by five p.m. on Sunday [1].
The ruling highlights the judiciary's response to violence against healthcare workers, emphasizing that political status does not grant immunity from the law.
Mhatre, an elected representative for the Dombivli-Thane area, faced these charges after an alleged assault on two doctors [1] and other medical staff at a civic-run hospital in Thane [2]. The court determined that the seriousness of the allegations against the corporator warranted the revocation of his freedom.
Bail had been originally granted to Mhatre on July 14, 2024 [2]. However, the bench of the Bombay High Court reversed that decision on July 21, 2024, citing the gravity of the incident.
"The court has cancelled the bail and directed the accused to surrender by 5 p.m. on Sunday," the judge said [1].
The order requires Mhatre to return to custody immediately to face the charges related to the hospital altercation. The case has drawn attention to the safety of medical personnel in civic institutions, where staff are frequently targeted during disputes over care or administration.
“The court has cancelled the bail and directed the accused to surrender by 5 p.m. on Sunday.”
This decision reflects a tightening judicial stance against the harassment and physical assault of medical professionals in India. By cancelling the bail of a sitting political representative, the court is signaling that the protection of healthcare workers outweighs the political influence of the accused, potentially serving as a deterrent for similar attacks on public health infrastructure.
