'I fled the city': Thane doctor quits after alleged assault by Shiv Sena leader

The doctor told NDTV that he had no plans to return, alleging that those involved in the assault were "dangerous people."

'I have already left the city'

"I have resigned because there is a lot of fear. Goons are watching us, and I have already left the city. They are very dangerous people. The other doctors may continue working there, but I cannot. I will not go back there again," the doctor told the English news channel.

His statement comes amid growing outrage over the assault on medical professionals inside the hospital premises.

The alleged assault took place on July 6 at Shastri Nagar Hospital, operated by the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in Dombivli.

Police registered an FIR against Mhatre and five others on Tuesday night before taking the corporator into custody from his residence.

Dispute began over lack of NICU beds

According to hospital officials, the confrontation began after doctors Srishti Baviskar and Vaibhav Salunkhe advised the family of a newborn to shift the infant to another hospital as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was full.

The baby's relatives allegedly contacted Mhatre, who arrived at the hospital with his supporters.

CCTV footage that later went viral shows Mhatre approaching Dr Baviskar from behind while she was holding a mobile phone and striking her hand, causing the phone to fall.

The group is then seen allegedly attacking other hospital staff. Dr Salunkhe also sustained injuries in the incident.

'I didn't attack the doctor, I slapped her phone'

Despite his arrest, Mhatre defended his actions in an interview with NDTV, insisting he had not assaulted the woman doctor.

"I did not attack the woman doctor at the hospital. I only hit her hand because she was not listening to our complaint," he said.

Claiming he merely knocked the phone away to get her attention, Mhatre added, "I slapped her phone as she was not listening to us."

The corporator remained defiant, refusing to apologise.

"Our action saved the life of a woman and her child. We don't care about anything else," he said, accusing the doctor of being arrogant and suggesting he would express regret only if the doctors apologised first.

Political leaders condemn attack

The incident drew condemnation from across the political spectrum.

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and a doctor by profession, termed the assault "highly condemnable."

"No one who takes the law into their own hands will be spared. Strict legal action will be taken against those responsible," he wrote on X, adding that the party would not shield anyone involved and would initiate disciplinary action.

Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal described the incident as an example of "thuggery" fuelled by the "intoxication of power."

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray questioned whether Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would tolerate such conduct from an ally and demanded Mhatre's immediate arrest and dismissal.

Doctors' body demands strict action

The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) strongly condemned the attack, saying doctors should not be blamed for systemic shortcomings such as the shortage of NICU beds.

FAIMA Chief Patron Rohan Krishnan called the incident "deeply unfortunate" and said repeated attacks on healthcare workers were creating fear, severe mental stress and contributing to suicides within the medical profession.

The association urged the Maharashtra government to take decisive action against those responsible within 24 hours.