Police arrested Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre after he allegedly assaulted doctors and nurses at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli [1].

The incident has sparked nationwide outrage, highlighting the vulnerability of healthcare workers and the perceived immunity of political figures in India.

The assault occurred on the evening of July 6, 2024 [1]. According to reports, Mhatre targeted a woman doctor and other nursing staff at the facility located in the Thane district of Maharashtra [3]. The events were captured on CCTV footage, which later served as primary evidence for the investigation [3].

Authorities took Mhatre into custody on July 8, 2026, which was two days after the initial attack [2]. The arrest followed the filing of a First Information Report (FIR), and a surge of public condemnation after the video evidence became public [1], [3].

Shastri Nagar Hospital is a facility under the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) [3]. The footage showed the corporator engaging in a physical confrontation with the medical personnel on duty, an act that prompted immediate calls for legal action from medical associations.

Mhatre represents the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena [1]. While the political party has not issued a formal statement regarding the specific legal proceedings, the arrest marks a significant escalation in the state's response to violence against healthcare providers.

“Ramesh Mhatre was arrested after video evidence showed him assaulting doctors and nurses.”

This arrest reflects a growing intolerance for violence against medical professionals in India, where healthcare workers have frequently reported threats and physical abuse. By arresting a sitting corporator, authorities are signaling that political affiliation does not grant immunity from the law, potentially setting a precedent for the protection of public health staff in municipal hospitals.