‘You Seek Votes, Then Hit People’: HC Slams Shiv Sena Corporator, Denies Interim Relief In Assault Case

Published 28 July 2026 · india

‘You Seek Votes, Then Hit People’: HC Slams Shiv Sena Corporator, Denies Interim Relief In Assault Case Published By, Last Updated: July 28, 2026, 12:51

‘You Seek Votes, Then Hit People’: HC Slams Shiv Sena Corporator, Denies Interim Relief In Assault Case Published By, Last Updated: July 28, 2026, 12:51 IST The High Court directed that the investigation be handed over to the DCP of the concerned zone and asked the officer to submit a status report on July 31. Rapid Read Sena corporator assaults woman doctor, staff at Thane hospital (Video screengrabs) The Bombay High Court on Monday pulled up Shiv Sena Corporator Ramesh Mhatre, accused of assaulting doctors and hospital staff at a civic-run hospital in Dombivli, saying that an elected representative cannot attack the very people he is elected to serve. While hearing a suo motu petition after Mhatre was granted bail following his arrest in the case, a division bench of Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad denied any interim relief to the Sena coporator and directed that the investigation be handed over to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of the concerned zone and asked the officer to submit a status report on July 31.

“You are in public life, for the public and to serve the public, why do you behave like this? Why to beat the public… we are surprised that a person who goes to voters and says I want to serve you, please vote for me and then after getting elected he starts beating people… People vote you for becoming their representatives but after getting elected you break their heads with files and chairs? It’s quite surprising… Is this how you behave?" Chief Justice Ghuge orally remarked while questioning Mhatre’s conduct as a public representative, as quoted by Livelaw. Referring to the alleged assault captured on video, the court observed that Mhatre “did not waste even half a second" while attacking a doctor and rejected the argument that his age of 73 warranted leniency. The judges noted that he appeared “almost jumping over the table" during the assault. The High Court also criticised the police investigation, observing that no meaningful probe had initially been conducted and that officers had shown “rare respect" to the accused by producing him before a magistrate through video conferencing for remand.

The court further noted that Mhatre was admitted to hospital after being remanded to judicial custody citing health issues but walked out immediately after securing bail, where he was reportedly welcomed by supporters. Mhatre was arrested after allegedly assaulting three doctors, including a woman doctor, and hospital staff at KDMC’s Shastri Nagar Hospital on July 6. The altercation reportedly began over the treatment of a pregnant woman. After examining her, doctors informed the family that the newborn might require treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Since all NICU beds at the civic hospital were occupied, the family was advised that the patient could be shifted to another hospital if specialised neonatal care became necessary. Hospital staff alleged that the referral decision led to an argument, after which Mhatre and some of his supporters entered the hospital and assaulted a woman doctor, two other doctors and three nurses. They further claimed that security guards were prevented from intervening during the incident.