Shiv Sena Corporator Ramesh Mhatre Booked for Assaulting Doctors at KDMC Hospital; Blames camera angle
Healthcare services across civic hospitals in the Kalyan-Dombivli region came to a grinding halt on Tuesday as doctors and nursing staff launched a massive strike. The protests erupted after a horrifying video went viral showing a prominent Shiv Sena corporator, Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre, and his mob brutally assaulting on-duty medical officers at the KDMC-run Shastrinagar Hospital in Dombivli.
The Trigger: Systemic Shortages, Not Medical Negligence
The incident occurred on Monday evening when a 33-year-old pregnant patient, Priyanka Ugmale, was admitted to the hospital. Doctors discovered the umbilical cord was looped twice around the fetus and prepared for an emergency C-section. Anticipating that the newborn would require immediate critical care, the medical team checked the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), only to find all beds fully occupied.
To ensure the baby’s survival, Dr. Srishti Bawiskar and Dr. Vaibhav Salunkhe advised the family to shift the patient to another facility where a NICU bed was available. Infuriated by the referral and the perceived delay, the patient’s relatives immediately called Corporator Ramesh Mhatre.
Also read: Sagar Medical College: Woman Doctor Alleges Assault, JUDA Warns of Statewide Strike
Mob Violence Caught on Camera
Mhatre arrived at the hospital accompanied by his supporters and confronted the medical team. CCTV footage purportedly shows the corporator abusing and physically assaulting the female gynecologist and other staff members. Supporters allegedly restrained the hospital’s security guards to prevent them from intervening to save the doctors. Dr. Salunkhe sustained physical injuries during the mob violence.
Medical Fraternity Strikes Back
Outraged by the brutal assault, the entire hospital staff suspended routine OPD and medical services on Tuesday, demanding the immediate arrest of Mhatre and his accomplices. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Kalyan and Dombivli units escalated the situation, threatening to shut down all private clinics and hospitals in the region if an FIR was not filed by Wednesday.
The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) strongly condemned the attack. Dr. Rohan Krishnan, FAIMA’s Chief Patron, stated, “Doctors cannot be held responsible for systemic deficiencies such as non-availability of NICU beds, shortage of infrastructure or administrative limitations“. He further urged the Maharashtra government to take decisive action within 24 hours to prove that violence against healthcare workers will not be tolerated.
Also read: Odisha: Pregnant Woman Dies at Malkangiri Hospital, Doctor Assaulted Amid Negligence Allegations
FIR Registered and Official Statements
Buckling under intense pressure from the medical associations, the Vishnu Nagar police finally registered an FIR late Tuesday night against Mhatre and five of his associates. Assistant Commissioner of Police Suhas Nemade confirmed that the accused were booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for assault on a public servant, rioting, and under sections of the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons Act. However, no arrests have been made so far.
Reacting to the public outrage, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde strongly condemned his own party’s corporator.
“The assault on doctors and medical staff at Shastri Nagar Hospital of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) is highly condemnable,” the Chief Minister stated in a post on X. “No one who takes the law into their own hands will be spared, and strict action will be taken against the guilty as per the law. The party will not support any individual involved in this attack”.
Meanwhile, Corporator Ramesh Mhatre held a press conference to deny the allegations, attempting to justify his actions. Despite the CCTV footage, Mhatre claimed, “I express regret over the incident of assault that took place. I state with full confidence that I did not raise my hand against the female doctor. What appears in the CCTV footage might look that way due to the camera angle… While we were conversing, she kept talking on the phone and was not listening to our grievance; that is why I tapped her on the hand“.
- Shiv Sena Corporator Ramesh Mhatre Booked for Assaulting Doctors at KDMC Hospital; Blames camera angle
- MP Govt Changes DRP Rules: Housing Allowance Scrapped, Deans to Finalize Postings for Resident Doctors
- FMGE June 2026 Results Declared: NBEMS Releases Official Pass List and Scorecard Dates
The Bottom Line
The absolute audacity of a politician claiming that repeatedly striking a female doctor on camera is merely a “camera angle” is an insult to the intelligence of the entire medical fraternity. This incident highlights the most toxic aspect of practicing medicine in India: doctors are physically beaten for the systemic failures of the government. The doctors did not fail the patient; the state failed to provide enough NICU beds. When a doctor rightly refers a critical patient to save a newborn’s life, they deserve gratitude, not a mob assault led by a local corporator drunk on power. While the Chief Minister’s condemnation is welcome, words are not enough. Until Ramesh Mhatre is arrested and put behind bars under the Medicare Act, no doctor in Maharashtra is truly safe.
