Shiv Sena corporator assaults doctors at Kalyan hospital, Shinde vows action
Synopsis
CCTV footage from a Kalyan municipal hospital has exposed a Shiv Sena corporator allegedly assaulting two doctors and nursing staff after a post-delivery referral dispute — and the fallout has reached the party's own top leadership, with Eknath Shinde's son publicly vowing disciplinary action against one of their own.
Key Takeaways
Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre of Kalyan-Dombivli allegedly assaulted doctors and staff at Shastrinagar Hospital on 6 July 2025 .
The incident was triggered after doctors advised shifting a newborn — whose umbilical cord was wrapped around its neck twice — to a facility with a free NICU .
Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe and Dr Srushti Baviskar were allegedly physically attacked; nursing staff Namita Ubale and Dravya Giri were also manhandled.
Mhatre denied assaulting the woman doctor, claiming he only slapped her phone and acted in the patient's interest.
Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde condemned the assault, confirmed a case has been registered, and pledged party-level disciplinary action against those found guilty.
A Shiv Sena corporator from Kalyan-Dombivli, Ramesh Mhatre, is facing serious legal and political consequences after CCTV footage from Shastrinagar Hospital in Kalyan, Maharashtra, purportedly showed him and several supporters physically assaulting doctors and nursing staff on 6 July 2025. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from the medical community and prompted a public pledge of strict action from senior Shiv Sena leadership.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to hospital officials, the altercation was triggered by a post-delivery complication. A woman admitted to Shastrinagar Hospital for childbirth underwent a caesarean procedure, after which attending physicians Dr Srushti Baviskar and Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe discovered that the newborn's umbilical cord had been wrapped around the infant's neck twice, necessitating specialised neonatal care.
As the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was reportedly at full capacity, the doctors advised the family to transfer the infant to a facility better equipped to handle the case. The patient's relatives then allegedly contacted corporator Mhatre. Since the doctors were attending to other patients and could not answer his calls, Mhatre reportedly arrived at the hospital with a group of supporters shortly thereafter.
The Assault and Its Aftermath
The surveillance footage, which circulated widely on social media, appears to show a physical altercation in which Dr Salunkhe and Dr Baviskar were allegedly attacked. According to the doctors, they were verbally abused before being physically assaulted, with no attempt made to understand the medical reasoning behind the referral. Dr Salunkhe reportedly sustained injuries during the incident.
Two members of the nursing staff, Namita Ubale and Dravya Giri, who stepped in to protect the doctors, were also allegedly pushed and manhandled. The entire sequence was recorded by the hospital's cameras. Healthcare organisations across Maharashtra have since demanded strict legal action, stressing that violence against medical professionals is indefensible under any circumstances.
What Mhatre Said
Despite the footage and the outcry, Mhatre denied assaulting the woman doctor. Speaking to a national television channel on Wednesday, he maintained that he had not physically attacked her, claiming he had merely slapped her mobile phone because she was not responding to his attempts to reach her. He argued that his intervention was motivated by concern for the patient and the newborn, and asserted that his actions had helped save their lives. Mhatre said he would not apologise, adding that he would express regret only if the doctors first apologised for what he described as their behaviour.
Political Response and Disciplinary Action
Shrikant Shinde, Shiv Sena Member of Parliament and son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, condemned the assault in unequivocal terms. In a post on social media platform X, he wrote: 'The assault on doctors and medical staff at Shastri Nagar Hospital of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) is highly condemnable. As a doctor myself, I know that patient service is not merely a job but a service to humanity. In extremely adverse and stressful conditions, doctors, nurses, and other health workers labour day and night for the public's service.'
Shrikant Shinde also confirmed that a case had been registered and pledged that the party would not shield those responsible. 'No one who takes the law into their own hands will be spared, and strict action will be taken against the guilty as per the law. The party's stance on this matter is also clear. The party will not support any individual involved in this attack. Strict disciplinary action will also be taken within the party against those found guilty,' he added.
This incident comes amid a broader national conversation about the safety of healthcare workers in public hospitals, a concern that has repeatedly surfaced following high-profile attacks on medical staff across India. With a case now registered and party leadership publicly distancing itself from Mhatre, the next steps — including potential suspension from the party and criminal proceedings — are being closely watched by the medical fraternity.
Point of View
Suggesting the political cost of defending such conduct now outweighs the cost of acting against a local functionary. Yet the speed of the condemnation should not obscure a harder question: why does a corporator feel entitled to enter a hospital with supporters and confront doctors mid-shift? Until that culture of impunity is addressed structurally — through stronger enforcement of existing laws protecting healthcare workers — statements of outrage will remain the ceiling of accountability, not the floor.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Shastrinagar Hospital in Kalyan on 6 July 2025?
Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and several supporters allegedly entered Shastrinagar Hospital in Kalyan and physically assaulted two doctors, Dr Srushti Baviskar and Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe, as well as two nursing staff members. The incident was captured on CCTV and the footage subsequently went viral on social media.
Why did Ramesh Mhatre go to the hospital?
According to hospital officials, the doctors had advised the family of a newborn to transfer the infant to another facility because the NICU at Shastrinagar Hospital was at full capacity. The baby required specialised care after its umbilical cord was found wrapped around its neck twice. The patient's relatives reportedly contacted Mhatre, who arrived at the hospital after the doctors did not answer his calls.
What did Ramesh Mhatre say in his defence?
Mhatre denied assaulting the woman doctor, claiming he had only slapped her mobile phone because she was not responding to his concerns. He argued that his intervention was aimed at helping the patient and the newborn, and said he would not apologise unless the doctors first apologised for their conduct.
What action has been taken following the assault?
A case has been registered in connection with the incident, according to Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde. Shinde, who is also a doctor, publicly condemned the assault and stated that the party would not protect those involved, adding that internal disciplinary action would also be taken against party members found guilty.
Who is Shrikant Shinde and why did he intervene?
Shrikant Shinde is a Shiv Sena Member of Parliament and the son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He is also a qualified doctor. He condemned the assault on X and confirmed that a police case has been filed, pledging that no one who takes the law into their own hands will be spared.
