Shiv Sena Expels 7 Over Palghar Hospital Assault, HC Seeks Police Report
The clash took place last Saturday following a dispute over the treatment of five injured Govindas admitted to Relief Hospital after the Dahi Handi festivities on September 5. Three of them were in intensive care.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena on Tuesday expelled seven office-bearers from the party in connection with the recent violent assault at Relief Hospital in Palghar. The action came despite a written complaint to the police by several injured Govindas, who accused the hospital management of overcharging and expressed support for the party activists. The party said the disciplinary action against its office-bearers was taken on the direct instructions of party chief Eknath Shinde.
The action began on Monday with the arrest and suspension of Shiv Sena Palghar city chief Rahul Gharat, the main accused in the case. On Tuesday, six more party functionaries were suspended: district chief Kundan Sankhe, deputy taluka chief Manish Sankhe, district Yuva Sena chief Sairaj Patil, deputy taluka chief and MLA Rajendra Gavit’s son Rohit Gavit, deputy taluka chief Rahul Sankhe, and Yuva Sena assembly constituency chief Hrishikesh Ware.
The clash took place last Saturday following a dispute over the treatment of five injured Govindas admitted to Relief Hospital after the Dahi Handi festivities on September 5. Three of them were in intensive care.
According to reports, Shiv Sena activists entered the hospital after doctors advised CT scans for the ICU patients. The group allegedly vandalised the premises, threatened members of the medical team, slapped a staff member and forcibly removed the patients from the hospital.
The incident has since come under the scrutiny of the Bombay High Court after the Palghar Doctors Association filed a petition alleging serious police inaction. A division bench of Justices A.S. Gadkari and Kamal Khata took note of the Palghar incident while hearing a separate suo motu case concerning a similar assault at a civic hospital in Thane in July, allegedly involving Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre.
Senior counsel Ashok Mundargi brought the Palghar incident to the bench’s attention and said an initial police report had been registered against 17 people, including several prominent party leaders.
Lawyers appearing for the petitioner and the Indian Medical Association told the court that local authorities were not seriously investigating the vandalism. They also alleged that pressure was being exerted on the police to register cases against doctors under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
When asked about the progress of the investigation, Additional Public Prosecutor Shreekant Gavand said he had not received instructions from the police and sought time. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on Wednesday and directed the Palghar district Superintendent of Police to remain present with the case papers.
Police arrested Gharat on Monday. He was allegedly part of the group that entered the hospital and is accused of slapping a staff member, while Sankhe and others allegedly intimidated the doctors.