Shiv Sena (Shinde) Corporator Held for Assaulting Doctors, Party Distances Itself
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, July 8: Corporator belonging to the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) Ramesh Mhatre was arrested on Wednesday for the alleged assault on doctors and other medical staff at the Shastrinagar Hospital, run by the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in Dombivli in Thane district in Maharashtra.
The arrest followed a police case registered against Mhatre and five others over the incident which occurred on the evening of July 6. The police registered the case against Mhatre and others on Tuesday night and was taken into custody from his residence on Wednesday.
According to hospital officials, the events began on Monday evening when doctors Srishti Baviskar and Vaibhav Salunkhe advised relatives of a newborn to shift the baby to another facility, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for better treatment of the baby since the civic hospital was full and the doctors cited the need for appropriate care for the infant.
The recommendation reportedly led to an argument, which later turned into an alleged physical assault on the doctors and other medical staff at the hospital. The relatives of the newborn contacted Mhatre, who arrived at the hospital with some of his associates. Video footage from the hospital, which circulated widely on social media, showed Mhatre approaching a woman doctor from behind as she holds a mobile phone. He strikes her with force, causing the phone to fall. He and his supporters then turn on other staff members. Images after the incident show hospital workers in distress. Salunkhe also sustained injuries during the assault.
The controversy began on Monday evening after a video of the incident circulated widely on social media. The footage triggered public outrage, with medical professionals demanding strict action against those involved.
According to the police, corporator Mhatre and his supporters allegedly attacked two doctors and other hospital staff after the family of a newborn was advised to shift the baby to another medical facility for further treatment.
Following mounting public pressure and objections raised by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), police registered a case against Mhatre and five others on Tuesday night. The IMA had warned that clinics and hospitals across the area would be shut if immediate legal action was not taken.
The Thane Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske distanced the party from the incident and said disciplinary proceedings had already begun against the corporator.
“The party has not supported the incident that occurred, nor will it ever support it. The assault was indeed committed by Mhatre. Even though he is a senior leader who has been elected five to six times, the party will not condone this behaviour,” Mhaske stated. He added that the party leadership had issued a show-cause notice to the accused corporator.
“The top leadership of the party will make the final decision regarding disciplinary action. Our disciplinary committee will decide on the exact course of action. Furthermore, the party will not interfere or hold back anywhere when it comes to legal action by the law enforcement agencies,” Mhaske said, adding that the law must take its own course.
Mr Mhatre, however, denied assaulting the doctor and showing no remorse for the incident refused to apologise. “I did not attack the woman doctor at the hospital,” the corporator insisted, adding that he only hit the doctor’s hand to get her off the phone as “she was not listening to our complaint.”
“I slapped her phone as she was not listening to us. I only tried to get her off the phone,” Mhatre said. “Our action saved the life of a woman and her child. We don’t care about anything else,” he said. He maintained that he had not attacked the doctor, described her as arrogant, and said he would not apologise. He suggested that if the doctors apologised for their behaviour, he would express regret.
Sangeeta Baviskar, the mother of Shruti Baviskar, applauded Mhatre’s arrest but called for “transparency.” “We are happy with Mhatre’s arrest, but there must be complete transparency in the proceedings,” she said. “It was heartbreaking to see my daughter being beaten. There was no negligence on her part. Serving people is a noble profession. My daughter was just explaining the right thing.”
She said her daughter was still in shock and was unable to face the media or discuss the incident. “She is suffering mentally and is not in a condition to speak. We are speaking on her behalf and seeking justice,” she said.
Dr Mahendra Baviskar, her father, said his daughter was on duty along with other doctors when the family of a pregnant patient, who had been referred to another hospital for treatment, allegedly summoned local corporator Ramesh Mhatre. “Without understanding the situation, the corporator and his men assaulted doctors and nurses and threatened them. My daughter was abused and threatened. They told them, ‘We will not leave you, we will see you,'” he alleged.
The family claims the threats extended beyond the assault itself. Sangeeta Baviskar alleged that those involved even threatened to bring women supporters to target the doctors. “An arrest has to happen. Such behaviour cannot be tolerated,” she said.
The parents alleged that the delay in action against Mhatre was due to his political influence. “He belongs to the ruling party and has the support of powerful leaders. That is why he was not being arrested. The police are protecting him,” alleged Dr Mahendra Baviskar, adding that the corporator’s influence and security cover made people fearful of speaking out.
Describing the broader atmosphere faced by medical professionals, Dr Baviskar alleged that local political workers frequently interfere in hospital functioning. “These corporator-backed groups create fear and keep threatening people. They do not allow doctors to work properly,” he said.
The family said CCTV footage from the hospital clearly captures the sequence of events and should be sufficient evidence for investigators. They also expressed disappointment that no senior leaders from the ruling establishment had contacted them or offered assurances following the incident.
According to the parents, Dr Srishti Baviskar remains under emotional distress and is currently resting at home. “She is not mentally fine. She is scared to return to work and fears for her safety,” her mother said.
Calling for systemic reforms, the family urged authorities to ensure stronger protection for healthcare workers. “This should never happen again. Strict action must be taken, and doctors, especially women doctors, must be given adequate security,” said Dr Mahendra Baviskar.
The Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and a doctor himself, condemned the assault. In a post on X, he said the actions were “highly condemnable.” “A case has been registered in connection with this incident. No one who takes the law into their own hands will be spared, and strict action will be taken against the guilty as per the law,” Shinde wrote. He added that the party would not support any individual involved in the attack and that strict disciplinary action would be taken within the party.
Opposition leaders also criticised the ruling alliance. Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal described the corporator’s actions as “thuggery” and linked them to “intoxication of power.” Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray questioned whether Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would tolerate such behaviour from an ally and called for the corporator’s arrest and dismissal.
The Federation of All India Medical Associations’ (FAIMA) Chief Patron Rohan Krishnan said it was “deeply unfortunate” and highlighted the constant fear under which doctors work, contributing to mental stress and suicides. FAIMA stated that doctors cannot be held responsible for systemic issues such as the lack of NICU beds and urged the Maharashtra government to take decisive action within 24 hours.
