14 arrested in Palghar hospital attack, including Shiv Sena MLA's son

Maharashtra's Palghar Police on Friday arrested 14 people, including the son of a Shiv Sena MLA, five days after a group allegedly attacked staff at a private hospital over the treatment of an injured 'Govinda'. The arrests came as the Bombay High Court criticised the investigation, calling it "ridiculous and seriously flawed" and seeking a report from a senior police officer.

The High Court said the action taken by Palghar Police appeared to be "merely superficial" and seemed to have been carried out in a manner that could ultimately benefit the accused.

The incident took place on the intervening night of September 5 and 6 at Relief Hospital in Palghar, where several injured 'Govindas' who had taken part in Dahi Handi celebrations were undergoing treatment.

According to the allegations, Sena workers entered the hospital claiming that it was charging excessive fees. They allegedly vandalised the premises, threatened doctors, assaulted hospital staff and forcibly removed one of the injured men from the ICU.

Shiv Sena Palghar city chief Rahul Gharat was arrested in connection with the case on September 7 and was subsequently suspended from the party.

A police official said 14 more people were arrested on Friday, including Rohit, son of Shiv Sena MLA Rajendra Gavit. The police have named a total of 22 people in the FIR registered in connection with the incident.

The Bombay High Court bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Kamal Khata directed the Additional Inspector General of Police, Konkan division, to review the investigation and submit a report on September 17. The report will state whether the action taken by Palghar Police was legally appropriate.

The court also questioned the "lackadaisical" manner in which the investigation had been conducted so far. It raised concerns about the preparation of the panchnama, or spot inspection report, as well as entries made in the station case diary.

The bench was initially hearing a suo motu case concerning an assault at a civic hospital in Thane in July. Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre is an accused in that case.

During the hearing, senior counsel Ashok Mundargi brought the Palghar hospital incident to the court's attention.  (with inputs from PTI)