Doctors assault case: Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre released from jail, directed to stay outside Maharashtra

Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre, accused of assaulting doctors at a civic hospital. File Pic

Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre, accused of assaulting doctors at a civic hospital in Thane district, was released from jail and has moved to neighbouring Goa to comply with his bail condition of staying outside Maharashtra.

Mhatre walked out of Adharwadi jail in Kalyan on Saturday, a day after the Bombay High Court granted him bail and directed that the trial be fast-tracked and completed within a time-bound period.

The politician told reporters that he would stay in Anjuna, Goa, along with three of his supporters, who are co-accused in the case.

"The matter is currently sub judice. I have complete faith in the court and will fully accept whatever verdict the judiciary delivers," he said before being escorted into a vehicle, reported
PTI.

Bombay HC imposes strict bail conditions

While granting bail to Mhatre, a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad imposed strict conditions on him and the other accused and directed them to stay outside Maharashtra until the chargesheet in the case is filed.

"The accused will be allowed to return to Maharashtra only when the trial court frames charges in the case. Even then, they shall not contact the witnesses in the case or tamper with any evidence," the High Court said, reported PTI.

HC had stayed lower court's bail order

A court in Thane district had granted bail to Mhatre, a corporator of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), on July 15.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the High Court on July 18 stayed the bail granted by the lower court and directed Mhatre to surrender before the police.

The High Court stayed the order passed by the Kalyan court, describing it as "perverse". It observed that the magistrate's court had treated the matter too lightly and had failed to consider Mhatre's criminal antecedents.

Doctors allegedly assaulted at Shastri Nagar Hospital

On July 6, Mhatre and the other accused allegedly gathered at a municipal hospital and assaulted doctors. The incident took place at Shastri Nagar Hospital after the family members of a pregnant woman accused hospital staff of delaying her treatment.

(With PTI inputs)