The Bombay High Court has expressed strong displeasure over the Palghar police's failure to apprehend nine accused individuals involved in the assault of medical staff, labeling the inaction as 'unacceptable'.
- Bombay HC slams Palghar police for laxity in arresting 9 absconding accused.
- The case involves Shiv Sena workers assaulting medical staff at Relief Hospital over treatment costs.
- Court highlighted a pattern of violence, citing a similar incident in Dombivli, Thane.
- The HC suggested transferring the probe to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch if local police fail.
The Bombay High Court, in a stern hearing on Wednesday, heavily criticized the Palghar police for their perceived negligence in investigating the assault on medical staff and the subsequent vandalism of a private hospital in the district. A division bench comprising Justices A S Gadkari and Kamal Khata, hearing a suo-motu case, questioned the systemic failure that allowed the majority of the accused to remain at large.
During the proceedings, Palghar Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh informed the court that while the Shiv Sena city chief, Rahul Gharat, had been arrested, nine other named accused in the First Information Report (FIR) are currently absconding. This revelation prompted the court to question why prompt arrests were not made, stating that the accused are fleeing specifically because of police laxity.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that this case highlights a disturbing trend of political intimidation within the healthcare sector. When police fail to act against politically affiliated individuals, it creates a culture of impunity that endangers frontline healthcare workers. The court's insistence on accountability suggests a judicial effort to shield medical professionals from political violence.
The court noted that this is not an isolated event. It drew a direct parallel to an incident in July where a doctor was assaulted at a public hospital in the Dombivli region of Thane District. In that instance, Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre was arrested. The bench expressed frustration that the Palghar police failed to learn from the Thane precedent, asking, "Was the Thane incident not enough for police to learn a lesson?"
"The failure of law enforcement to protect medical professionals from political muscle creates a systemic collapse of trust in public healthcare delivery."
The assault occurred on the night of September 5 at the Relief Hospital in Palghar. The perpetrators, which reportedly included the son of MLA Rajendra Gavit and deputy taluka chief Rohit Gavit, allegedly attacked the staff over disputes regarding expensive treatment costs. The matter came to the court's attention during the hearing of the previous Thane incident.
In a final warning, the High Court advised the Palghar police to transfer the entire investigation to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch if they are incapable of executing the arrests and conducting a fair probe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who are the primary accused in the Palghar assault case?
The accused include Shiv Sena city chief Rahul Gharat (arrested), the son of MLA Rajendra Gavit, and deputy taluka chief Rohit Gavit.
The court suggested transferring the case to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch for a more rigorous investigation.
