Bombay High Court Revokes Bail of Shiv Sena Councillor Ramesh Mhatre Amid Controversy

The Bombay High Court has revoked the bail of Shiv Sena councillor Ramesh Mhatre, who faces serious allegations of assaulting doctors and medical staff at a Thane hospital. This decision follows public outrage and a video showing the incident. The Indian Medical Association has threatened protests and accused the police of favoritism towards Mhatre. As the case unfolds, the court has mandated Mhatre to surrender, with further hearings scheduled. This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between political figures and medical professionals in Maharashtra.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 18, 2026, 18:47 IST

High Court's Decision on Mhatre's Bail

On Saturday, the Bombay High Court annulled the bail granted to Shiv Sena councillor Ramesh Mhatre. He was arrested earlier this month for allegedly assaulting doctors and medical staff at a government hospital in Thane, Maharashtra. This ruling comes shortly after a magistrate court had previously granted him bail in the same case. Taking cognizance of the matter, the High Court instructed Mhatre to surrender by 5 PM on July 19, with the next hearing scheduled for July 22. The order was issued by a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad. The bench also urged the doctors to reconsider their planned protest on July 22, emphasizing the importance of "serving humanity." According to reports, the High Court noted that while Mhatre had been acquitted in 17 cases, it should have considered that he was implicated in 18 cases, some of which were of a serious and heinous nature.

Public Outrage Against Mhatre

Earlier this month, a video surfaced showing Mhatre and three associates physically assaulting two doctors and a medical staff member at a civic hospital. This incident drew widespread condemnation from the public, who expressed their anger over the attack, which occurred when a family was advised to transfer their newborn to another hospital. Following the incident, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) threatened to shut down clinics and hospitals in the area, leading to the filing of a case against Mhatre and five others. Subsequently, police arrested them, and after their remand ended earlier this week, they were placed in judicial custody.

Legal Developments and IMA's Demands

Despite being granted bail by a local court on July 14, the case escalated to the High Court, prompting doctors to warn of protests the following week. The IMA has accused the police of providing Mhatre with "VIP treatment" and claimed that officials threatened to file cases against them for "obstructing work." The association has now put forth four demands, including an apology and the suspension of the senior police inspector who allegedly threatened lawyers.