Bombay High Court refuses interim relief to corporator, orders change of investigating officer
The Bombay High Court on Monday (July 27, 2026) refused to grant interim relief to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre in a case of assault
The Bombay High Court on Monday (July 27, 2026) refused to grant interim relief to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre in a case of assault on three doctors at a civic hospital in Dombivli and directed the State to appoint a Deputy Commissioner of Police-rank officer as the investigating officer. The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad was hearing suo motu proceedings initiated after Mhatre was granted bail following his arrest.
The court had cancelled the bail on July 18. Mhatre’s counsel, Senior Advocate Abad Ponda, urged the bench to release his client, stating that the corporator, aged 73, has one kidney and had surrendered pursuant to the court’s directions. Ponda submitted that the July 18 order had conveyed a message against violence on doctors. The Indian Medical Association’s counsel informed the court that the woman doctor who was assaulted continues to receive threatening calls.
The complainant doctor’s counsel submitted that doctors work under the fear of assault. Amicus curiae Ashok Mundargi said Mhatre’s custody was justified to prevent influence on witnesses, given his position as a corporator. The court noted the manner in which the police produced Mhatre before the magistrate through video conference. Advocate General Milind Sathe said Mhatre was admitted to hospital after his blood pressure rose. The bench remarked that the accused had jumped off a table, slapped a female doctor, and snatched her phone.
The Chief Public Prosecutor informed the court that statements of two senior medical officers and three nurses had been recorded, with ten more witnesses to be examined. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on July 31.
The BriefWire