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The Supreme Court today expressed concern over a fresh incident of alleged assault on doctors in Maharashtra while hearing the bail plea of Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre in connection with an alleged attack on doctors at a hospital in Kalyan, observing that such incidents appeared to be recurring among the petitioner's associates.

The bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta pointed out that just yesterday, another similar incident has been reported involving the same group of people, referring to alleged assault on a private hospital in Palghar by Shiv Sena workers on Saturday. As per media reports, the alleged incident happened following a dispute over the discharge of five men who were injured at a Dahi Handi event.

"There seems to be a propensity amongst the peers of the petitioner", Justice Mehta remarked.

"Mr. Rohatgi, things are going from bad to worse. There was an incident yesterday. Same group of people, again assaulting doctors", the bench said.

The bench was hearing Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre's challenge to the Bombay High Court's July 18 order staying the bail granted to him and its August 7 order imposing stringent bail conditions. The orders were passed in suo motu proceedings initiated after the Magistrate granted bail to him and his associates.

"How can this be justified that you go and assault them inside, just beat them brutally? It's an issue of law and order. So they should be actually detained. That's what our feeling is. These people don't deserve to roam on streets", Justice Sandeep Mehta said today.

Last week, the Court questioned Mhatre over the assault of doctors at the Shastrinagar Hospital in Kalyan, observing that attacks on medical professionals inside hospitals could not be treated lightly. The Court indicated that it was inclined to uphold the Bombay High Court's July 18 order staying the bail granted to Mhatre booked for assaulting three doctors at the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation run hospital.

Today, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi for Mhatre submitted that he had instructions to withdraw the SLP against the bail conditions.

However, the bench reiterated that such assault on doctors was a serious issue and decided to issue notice on the Special Leave Petition filed by State of Maharashtra challenging the grant of bail to Mhatre. 

Today, Rohatgi denied that the new hospital vioelcen was by the "same group", and requested that a quietus be given to the issue of bail. "Virtually by the impugned order, he will be convicted. There's nothing left by that. The order says file a charge sheet within one week, new judge be appointed,"Rohatgi said.

"Let him be (convicted)...What's wrong? Let the trial be expedited. What is wrong?", Justice Mehta responded.

Rohatgi pressed for a quietus to the issue of bail. "Under the impugned order, his fate is clear. I am just saying, put a quietus to that."

The bench said that while it cannot prevent Mhatre from withdrawing his SLP against bail conditions, it will hear the State's SLP against bail. "No, no, we'll make it even clearer, don't worry. We cannot stop you from withdrawing your petition. We will allow you to withdraw it", Justice Nath said.

He added, "Let the message go. Message needs to go not only to these people, but it should work as a deterrent for everyone".

Ultimately, the Court allowed Mhatre to withdraw his plea against the stringent bail conditions. However, it issued notice on the state's SLP against the order granting bail to him. The Court granted Mhatre three weeks to file counter in the state's plea, and listed the matter after that.

Background

The case stems from an incident on July 6 involving a nine-month pregnant woman who, according to the petition, was in acute labour and had allegedly been kept waiting for several hours. Mhatre claims that he reached the hospital after repeated calls from the woman's family and an altercation subsequently took place with hospital staff. An FIR was registered on July 7, naming Mhatre as Accused No. 1.

A Magistrate in Kalyan granted bail to Mhatre on July 14 taking into account his age, medical condition, lack of flight risk and the fact that the principal CCTV evidence had already been secured.

The Bombay High Court, on July 18, following the protests by doctors, took suo motu cognisance and stayed the bail order, directing him to surrender. After two weeks, the High Court granted him bail.

Mhatre's petition challenges July 18 order as well as the stringent conditions subsequently imposed by the High Court in the August 7 order, including directing him to reside in Calangute, Goa, report three times a week at Anjuna Police Station and remain outside Maharashtra until commencement of trial. It also challenges directions concerning a fast-track trial, forensic examination, filing of the chargesheet and appointment of a Special Public Prosecutor.

Case no. – SLP(Crl) No. 16040-16041/2026

Case Title – Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre v. High Court of Judicature at Bombay

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