Case against 17 including Shiv Sena leaders over Palghar hospital dispute

A case was registered against seventeen individuals, including Shiv Sena leaders, following a hospital dispute

By: Suhas Birhade PALGHAR: A case has been registered against 17 people, including Shiv Sena’s Palghar district chief Kundan Sankhe, MLA Rajendra Gavit’s son Rohit Gavit and city chief Rahul Gharat, following an alleged altercation at a private hospital here over the treatment of an injured Govinda troupe member.

According to the complaint filed by the hospital administration, the group allegedly entered Relief Hospital and questioned doctors over their decision to conduct a CT scan on an injured Govinda. The hospital alleged that doctors and staff were abused, a staff member was slapped and threats were made to damage the hospital.

Five members of a Govinda troupe had been admitted to the hospital after being injured while forming a human pyramid during a Dahi Handi celebration on Saturday. One of them had suffered injuries to his head and spine. Doctors advised a CT scan and further treatment, with the hospital estimating the cost at around Rs 20,000. The organisers had deposited Rs 10,000, the complaint stated.

The dispute reportedly escalated when the organisers questioned the need for the scan and sought the patient’s discharge. Shiv Sena functionaries, including Sankhe, subsequently reached the hospital. The hospital has also alleged that some members of the group entered the ICU and asked patients to leave, raising concerns over the safety of other patients. The incident was captured on CCTV, and the footage has been handed over to police, according to the hospital administration.

Police have registered a case against the 17 accused under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those relating to causing hurt, insult and criminal intimidation, unlawful entry and unlawful assembly. Provisions of the Maharashtra Medicare Service-Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2010, have also been invoked. The incident comes at a time when the safety of doctors and hospital staff has come under renewed scrutiny following recent instances of assaults on medical professionals.

Sankhe, however, denied the allegations. He said the dispute arose because patients from the Govinda troupe, who had suffered minor injuries, were not being discharged from the hospital. He said the functionaries had gone to the hospital over the issue of treatment and discharge.