Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 19: The Bombay High Court on Saturday cancelled the bail granted to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and his aides in connection with the alleged assault on doctors and nurses at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli, directing Mhatre to surrender by 5 pm on Sunday.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghughe and Justice Gautam Ankhad took suo motu cognisance of the case after a magistrate's court in Kalyan granted bail to Mhatre. The High Court stayed the lower court's order, citing the "gravity and seriousness of the issue and the perversity" observed in the bail order.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 22.

The court said that if Mhatre fails to surrender or cannot be traced, the authorities are free to follow due legal procedure, including initiating action to attach his immovable properties.

Mhatre, the prime accused in the case, had been granted bail on July 14 on a personal bond of Rs 50,000. The magistrate's court had taken into account his medical condition, as he was undergoing treatment in hospital following his arrest.

His counsel, M K Qazi, had argued that the defence had addressed all objections raised by the prosecution, following which the trial court granted bail.

The case relates to the alleged assault on doctors and nurses at Shastri Nagar Hospital on July 6, an incident that sparked widespread outrage among the medical fraternity.

Mhatre was arrested under Sections 132 and 121(1) in connection with a case registered at Vishnunagar Police Station in Dombivli. Police said four accused have been arrested in the case so far.