Shiv Sena Corporator Ramesh Mhatre Denies Wrongdoing After Assaulting Doctor

Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre has refused to apologise after a video showed him allegedly hitting a woman doctor and assaulting other medical staff at a hospital near Mumbai. The July 6 incident triggered widespread outrage after footage showed Mhatre and his supporters confronting doctors, nurses and other employees. Later visuals showed distressed hospital staff in tears following the confrontation.

During an interview on Wednesday, Mhatre denied attacking the woman doctor despite being confronted with the video. He claimed he had only struck her hand and knocked away her phone because she was not listening to a complaint. Mhatre repeatedly defended his actions, said he had no regrets and refused to apologise, while arguing that he had intervened to help a pregnant woman and her unborn child.

According to a hospital official, the confrontation began over the unavailability of neonatal intensive care unit beds. Doctors had reportedly informed the family of a pregnant woman that her newborn might require NICU treatment but said all available beds were occupied. The family was therefore advised to consider shifting the patient to another hospital, after which the situation escalated and Mhatre and his supporters arrived at the facility.

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The video shows the woman doctor attempting to use her mobile phone and stepping behind a desk as the group approached. Mhatre is then seen striking her from behind, causing the phone to fall from her hand, before turning towards other hospital staff. Despite the footage, he continued to claim that he had done nothing wrong and blamed the doctors for the confrontation, accusing them of failing to respond to his earlier calls.

Mhatre said the incident would not have occurred if hospital staff had responded to him and claimed his intervention had saved the lives of the woman and her child. He also described the doctor as arrogant and said he would only express regret if the medical staff first apologised for their behaviour. A case has been registered in connection with the incident as authorities examine the footage and circumstances surrounding the assault.

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, condemned the attack on doctors and nursing staff at the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation's Shastri Nagar Hospital. Shinde said no one who takes the law into their own hands would be spared and promised strict legal action against those found responsible. He added that the party would not support anyone involved in the attack and would also take disciplinary action against members found guilty.

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