Thane doctors’ assault case: Ramesh Mhatre sent to police custody till July 13

The court also extended the police remand of Mhatre’s three accomplices, also accused in the doctors’ assault case. The accused have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(1) (criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 189(2) (unlawful assembly) and 191(2) (rioting).

Ramesh Mhatre, who was earlier arrested on Wednesday, July 8, was rushed to the Thane Civil Hospital after he complained of chest pain. He was discharged on Friday at 9 am after the doctors declared him fit.

‘I regret’: What Mhatre said after incident

In his first statement after a video of the incident went viral on social media, Mhatre denied the allegations of hitting the woman doctor. He did, however, express regret over the altercation.

“I regret the physical altercation that took place but I state again that I did not raise my hand against the female doctor. You are seeing the incident through a particular camera angle of the CCTV,” he said.

Mhatre claimed, “She was on the phone and not listening to our grievances, so I tapped her hand. We follow Balasaheb’s teachings; we have never raised a hand against women, nor will we ever do so in the future.”

Earlier on Thursday, July 9, a Kalyan court had rejected Ramesh Mhatre’s plea, seeking to be produced before the court through video conferencing, also turning down the police’s request for the Shiv Sena corporator’s custody remand since they failed to produce him before it. The court directed the police to bring him before the court if they wanted his custody.

The incident occurred on July 6 after a dispute over the treatment of a pregnant woman after the doctors advised that she be shifted to another hospital as Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) beds at the facility were fully occupied. Angered by this, the family of the patient contacted the Shiv Sena corporator and allegedly assaulted the doctors at the hospital.

The Shiv Sena has faced strong criticism over the incident from the Opposition leaders. On Thursday, the Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors observed a statewide black ribbon protest across government and semi government colleges and hospitals in protest against the protest.

Two doctors resign

As healthcare workers protested against the alleged assault on the doctors, the two doctors Mhatre is accused of assaulting have tendered their resignations.

Speaking with The Indian Express later, the 26-year-old resident medical officer (RMO) Mhatre had assaulted said he lived in fear for two days after receiving threatening phone calls and messages. He also alleged that some unknown persons were following him.

Shaken by the incident, he and the other staff member submitted their resignation letters on Tuesday and have not returned to work since.