Mumbai:
According to hospital staff, a pregnant woman had been admitted to the civic hospital for delivery. After examination, doctors informed the family that the newborn might require treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Since all NICU beds at the hospital were occupied, the family was advised that the patient could be shifted to another hospital if specialised neonatal care became necessary.
Doctors alleged that the referral advice triggered an argument, after which Mhatre and his supporters entered the hospital and assaulted a woman doctor, two other doctors and three nurses. Staff also claimed that security guards were prevented from intervening. The incident left several employees shaken, with some breaking down in tears, hospital staff said.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Sadiya Pinjari condemned the alleged assault and said violence against healthcare workers could not be tolerated. She demanded strict action against those responsible.
Police said an offence had been registered against five persons, including four men and a woman. ACP Suhas Hemade said the case had been filed under sections related to criminal force against a public servant, criminal intimidation and provisions of the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons Act.
Mhatre, however, denied assaulting women doctors and nurses, claiming the CCTV footage “may look that way” because of the angle. He said he had not raised his hand on any medical staff and later expressed regret over the incident, claiming he had merely tapped a doctor’s hand while trying to draw attention to public grievances.
The incident triggered sharp political reactions. NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar, who met the injured doctors and hospital staff, demanded Mhatre’s immediate arrest and alleged that the police and the state government were trying to shield those linked to the ruling alliance.
“What they did was absolutely wrong. They should be sent to jail. They assaulted a female doctor and a nurse, and one doctor’s condition is serious,” Pawar said. He warned that protests would be launched if the prime accused was not arrested.
Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said strict action should be taken in accordance with the law, adding that no party worker should assault a woman. Maharashtra Minister Pankaj Rajesh Bhoyar also said the police were investigating the complaint and that physical assault could not be tolerated under any circumstances. BJP MLA Pravin Darekar condemned the incident, saying disputes over hospital functioning must be resolved through proper channels, not violence.
AIMIM leader Waris Pathan also condemned the alleged assault, accusing those in power of believing they were above the law.
Doctors’ bodies across the state and country demanded immediate action. The Central Maharashtra State Association of Resident Doctors strongly condemned the incident, saying violence against healthcare workers was “unacceptable under any circumstances” and posed a serious threat to the safe delivery of healthcare services.
Central MARD president Dr Atharva Shinde said the association was gathering details and would submit a representation to the Maharashtra Public Health Department and the Home Department. The association urged doctors across the state to immediately register FIRs and inform the body whenever they face violence while on duty.
The Federation of All India Medical Association also wrote to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging his immediate intervention to ensure the arrest of all accused and demanding a zero-tolerance policy against violence targeting medical professionals.
FAIMA said doctors could not be blamed for systemic shortcomings such as shortage of NICU beds, inadequate infrastructure or administrative limitations. It sought the immediate arrest of all accused, stringent criminal charges, completion of the investigation within 24 hours, enhanced security in government hospitals, institutional support and compensation for affected healthcare workers.
FAIMA chief patron Dr Rohan Krishnan termed the incident “deeply unfortunate” and said doctors across the country continued to work under constant fear because of repeated violence, harassment and mental stress.
The strike at Shastrinagar Hospital continued as doctors and staff pressed for stronger security and swift legal action.
