THANE: A court in Kalyan on Friday framed charges against Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and four others in connection with the alleged assault of doctors and hospital staff at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli West, according to news agency PTI.The case relates to an incident on July 6, when Mhatre and the four other accused allegedly attacked medical staff over a dispute concerning the treatment of Sadhana Karande’s pregnant daughter.The charges were framed before Judicial Magistrate First Class Nilesh Vasade. Special Public Prosecutor Prakash Salsingikar said the court has fixed September 15 for the next hearing.According to the 1,819-page chargesheet, Sadhana Karande had taken her pregnant daughter to the hospital’s labour ward. Doctors Dr Vaibhav Namdev Salunke and Dr Srushti Mahendra Baviskar examined her sonography report and found that the umbilical cord had looped twice around the baby’s neck.As the baby required immediate NICU support, which was not available at the hospital, the doctors advised the family to shift the patient to Sion Hospital in Mumbai. The chargesheet states that Karande refused to move her daughter and contacted Mhatre.Mhatre then allegedly arrived at the hospital with Ramesh Pawar, Pramod Nikam, Akshay Karande and Sadhana Karande and assaulted members of the medical staff. The chargesheet alleges that Mhatre slapped Dr Salunke and abused and assaulted Dr Baviskar and nursing staff.The accused face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for assault, causing hurt, unlawful assembly, rioting, criminal intimidation, intentional insult, outraging the modesty of a woman and obstructing public servants from carrying out their duties.They have also been charged under Sections 3 and 4 of the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act and Sections 37(1)(3) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act for allegedly violating a prohibitory order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Branch, Thane.Mhatre appeared before the Kalyan court on Friday following the filing of the chargesheet by police. The document, submitted on Wednesday by Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Zende and Special Public Prosecutor Prakash Salsingikar, contains statements and other evidence from doctors, nurses, hospital employees and CCTV network contractors, police said.Mhatre, who represents the Kopar ward in Dombivli, reached the court around 9.30 am without an official security detail or large entourage. Wearing a face mask, he entered the crowded court premises with two associates.The court made the appearance of all the accused mandatory following directions from the Bombay High Court to speed up the investigation and trial.“Arguments were heard today from both the prosecution and defence regarding the framing of charges based on the chargesheet. The court formally framed the charges under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and our clients have denied them,” Mhatre’s lawyer Umar Kazi told reporters.“Because the chargesheet is extensive, we requested time to thoroughly examine the material. Following a request by the Special Public Prosecutor regarding compliance under Section 330 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the court has set the next hearing for September 15,” Kazi added.Pawar, Nikam and Akshay Karande were also present in court. Sadhana Karande, the fifth accused, remains in judicial custody at Aadharwadi Jail.Following the July 6 incident, Mhatre was granted bail by the Kalyan court. The decision drew criticism from the public and the Indian Medical Association, which called for a Maharashtra-wide strike.The Bombay High Court later took suo motu cognisance of the case and cancelled his bail, calling the assault an “attack” on the medical system. It directed Mhatre to surrender within 24 hours.He was subsequently sent to Aadharwadi Jail in Kalyan, where he spent 20 days. The High Court granted him bail on August 7, subject to stringent conditions.As part of the bail conditions, Mhatre and the three male co-accused moved to a resort in Anjuna, Goa. Mhatre has remained externed there since August 8.
