17 booked after Shiv Sena functionaries allegedly assault Palghar hospital staff
Palghar police have booked 17 people after hospital staff were allegedly assaulted and threatened during a dispute over the treatment and discharge of injured Dahi Handi participants. CCTV footage submitted to police shows a hospital employee being hit during the confrontation.
The incident took place at Relief Hospital in Palghar after five members of a Govinda troupe were admitted with injuries sustained while forming a human pyramid on Saturday. PTI reported that the five patients were Omkar Kalwadkar, Akash Patil, Hitesh Chaudhari, Keshav Thakur and Aniket Mahyavansh.
One of the injured participants had head and spinal injuries, and doctors advised a CT scan and further treatment. Relief Hospital owner Dr Vishal Kodgirkar told the media that the patient was unconscious and staff recommended 24-hour observation.
The hospital estimated the total treatment cost at about Rs 20,000, while PTI placed the bill at Rs 19,866. Kodgirkar told media that the hospital had given a 20 per cent concession, but the group sought a larger discount.
An associate paid Rs 10,000 in cash, according to PTI. The dispute escalated after the group questioned the need for the scan and sought the patient’s discharge without settling the remaining amount, another media house reported.
PTI said 15 to 20 people entered the casualty ward at about 1.15 am. The group allegedly abused the doctor on duty, slapped billing receptionist Vivek Babulinga and entered the intensive care unit.
Police said one injured participant was forcibly removed from the ICU, according to PTI. Kodgirkar alleged that the group removed the patient’s intravenous line and took him away, while media reported allegations that members asked patients to leave.
Those named in the case include Shiv Sena district chief Kundan Balkrishna Sankhe, city chief Rahul Ramdas Gharat and Rohit Gavit, the son of MLA Rajendra Gavit, PTI reported. CCTV footage showed Gharat hitting a hospital employee while a woman staff member was threatened when she tried to intervene.
The accused were booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions Act. Police cited alleged assault, criminal intimidation, trespass and unlawful assembly, while no arrests had been made.
Sankhe denied the hospital’s broader allegations, according to the media. He said the participants had minor injuries, the dispute concerned their treatment and discharge, and hospital staff had abused the group.
Sankhe, according to the media, acknowledged Gharat had slapped billing employee Vivek Babu Jhinga, but described the confrontation as a small incident. Palghar Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh told media that the case was being investigated and no arrests had been made by then.
The Sharad Pawar-led NCP criticised the incident and called for action against all 17 accused. Police are examining the CCTV footage and investigating the complaint.
(With inputs from PTI)