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In the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Justice Vikram Nath spoke directly to the lawyer representing Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre, saying, “These kinds of people don’t deserve bail. They don’t have respect for the medical fraternity. Imagine the trauma when a mob attacks. You go inside a hospital and hit any random person?”
This case has moved through three courts in under two months-a magistrate’s court in Kalyan, a Division Bench of the Bombay High court, and now the Supreme Court of India.
What Started It All – July 6, 2026
An incident took place at night at Shastri Nagar General Hospital, a hospital run by the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in Dombivli, in Thane district.
A woman who was nine months pregnant came to the hospital while in labour. The doctors examined her and found that the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the ward for newborns needing special care, had no beds free. So they told her family she needed to go to a different hospital that could handle any complications.
What the CCTV camera showed.
Based on the police complaint and accounts from several witnesses, the woman’s family called Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre, their local Shiv Sena corporator (a local elected official). Mhatre showed up at the hospital with a group of supporters, and a fight broke out.
The CCTV footage, which later spread widely on social media, shows Mhatre slapping and punching Dr. Vaibhav Salunkhe, and hitting Resident Medical Officer Dr. Srishti Baviskar on her hand. In total, three doctors and other hospital staff were attacked.
Arrest and the First Bail – July 7 to July 14
On July 7, 2026, the Vishnunagar police filed a First Information Report (FIR), against Mhatre and five other people. Mhatre was listed as Accused No. 1. He was charged under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including assaulting a public servant, causing injury on purpose, threatening someone, gathering an unlawful crowd, and rioting.
On July 8, 2026, Mhatre was arrested. After his arrest, he said he had chest pain and was admitted to Thane District Civil Hospital. Doctors treating him found that he has high blood pressure and only one kidney. A Kalyan court directed police to produce him only after doctors confirmed he was medically fit.
On July 13, Mhatre and the others arrested with him were sent to judicial custody .
On July 14, the magistrate’s court in Kalyan granted Mhatre bail after he paid a cash bond of ₹50,000. In giving bail, the magistrate considered Mhatre’s age, his health problems, the fact that he wasn’t likely to flee, and that the key CCTV evidence had already been collected and secured. But this bail order was set aside within a week.
Meanwhile, the viral CCTV video sparked widespread anger. Doctors across the Kalyan-Dombivli region went on strike. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) got involved in the matter. Politicians reacted too, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde publicly criticized Mhatre, while Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray demanded that Mhatre be removed from his party post and public office.
The two doctors who were attacked were badly shaken by the experience and resigned from their jobs.
What the Court Said
The judges made several important comments during the hearing. Speaking about the safety of doctors, Justice Sandeep Mehta said: “Medical fraternity is threatened. Like this, who will come to the aid of the people at large?”
On whether the High Court was right to step in on its own, Justice Nath said the High Court was “very justified” in doing so.
The Court’s Order:
The Court did not decide the matter immediately. Instead, it directed the state government to formally apply for cancellation of Mhatre’s bail. Mhatre was permitted to file a short affidavit in response, and the state was permitted to place further material on record. The matter was listed for further hearing on September 7, 2026. Justice Mehta observed: “Take a couple of more weeks. Prepare the matter.”
Case Details: Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre v. State of Maharashtra | Diary No. 50892/2026
