MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Thursday indicated that it would on Friday pass an order to release on bail Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre (73) and three others who have been accused and arrested for allegedly beating up three doctors, including a woman, at Shastri Nagar Municipal Hospital in Dombivli on July 6.The release would be on a strict condition to remain out of Maharashtra till the chargesheet is filed, said Acting Chief Justice RV Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad.Senior counsel Aabad Ponda, while seeking bail for Mhatre, said he was willing to stay outside the state till the chargesheet is filed, and the HC could impose such and other stringent conditions.The HC had after reading about the “brutal assault’’ on even a female doctor and the strike call given by Indian Medical Association (IMA) had on its own taken up the issue, stayed the bail orders for all four accused, and ensured Mhatre had gone back behind bars following his release from magisterial custody. Ponda said a “lesson was learnt”, but invoked the ‘bail, not jail’ principle.Senior counsel Ashok Mundargi, an amicus curiae — appointed to assist the court — in the matter said a speedy trial is important to send out a “strong message’’ to retain society’s faith in the system, especially where politicians are involved.Shishir Hirey, the state’s public prosecutor, said most of the probe is complete and the chargesheet would be filed in 10 days, but that the forensic reports are awaited.Mundargi submitted that if the HC were to direct the forensic laboratory, the report would be expedited. The HC said that it would do so, and sought to know from all sides present what other bail conditions be imposed. Senior counsel S U Kamdar, for IMA, suggested that Mhatre be kept outside the city at least till the trial is over and even after chargesheet is filed. Advocate Sana Raees Khan represented the three co-accused in court.The HC said it would issue directions that in 10 days, along with the chargesheet, a special public prosecutor with “large experience” be appointed, who should not be replaced mid-way, and that the trial be fastracked.All four accused, who are lodged at Aadharwadi Jail in Kalyan, would on their release be asked to report to the local police station outside Maharashtra and would not be allowed to contact any of the witnesses or other persons, and that no attempt to tamper with evidence will be tolerated. The HC will pass the order on these lines on Friday.Kamdar also said the two doctors, including the woman doctor, who have still not reported back for work, be given police protection to enable their return. Both had tendered their resignations, which the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation had not accepted.Hirey said the doctor who lodged the complaint was given protection from his hometown in Washim to Mumbai, and local police there were “sensitised’’. He added that the state was ready to provide security, provided the doctors’ accept it because last time, the state was told their privacy would get compromised.
