Kalyan: A Kalyan court on Friday framed charges against Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and four others in connection with the alleged assault on doctors, including a female doctor, and nurses at Dombivli’s Shastri Nagar Municipal Hospital following a dispute over the treatment of a pregnant woman on July 6.All five accused pleaded not guilty and will now face trial, which is expected to begin from September 15.Mhatre, along with Pramod Nikam, Ramesh Pawar, Akshay Karande, and Sadhana Karande, appeared before Judge N P Vasade of the fast-track court two days after police filed a 1,832-page chargesheet in the case.Special public prosecutor Prakash Salsingikar made brief submissions on the incident that led to the prosecution. Defence lawyers also made their submissions before the magistrate asked each of the five accused whether they pleaded ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’. All denied the charges.The accused have been charged under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to assault and causing hurt, assaulting or obstructing a public servant, unlawful assembly and rioting,common intention, criminal intimidation and intentional insult, besides offences relating to the dignity or modesty of a woman.They have also been booked under Sections 3 and 4 of the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act and Sections 37(1)(3) and Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act for allegedly violating orders imposed to maintain public order.Mhatre had been staying in Goa after the Bombay high court granted him conditional bail in August. The HC had directed him to remain outside Maharashtra until the chargesheet was filed and ordered that the trial be fast-tracked for completion within three months.After the chargesheet was filed on Wednesday, the condition ceased to operate and Mhatre returned to his residence and appeared before the court on Friday.After the court proceedings, Mhatre also attended the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation’s general body meeting at the civic headquarters for around 15 minutes before leaving.
