Eknath Shinde suspends Shiv Sena's Palghar chief over hospital assault case and vows expulsion

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde suspended Shiv Sena's Palghar unit chief Rahul Gharat after party workers were accused of attacking staff at a private hospital. Shinde also vowed to expel those involved.

The case followed a dispute over the treatment and discharge of injured Govindas, participants in Dahi Handi celebrations. Five members of a troupe were being treated at Relieef Hospital in Palghar after being injured while attempting to break a Dahi Handi organized by Shiv Sena.

“

Enter the hospital, do not spare these doctors.

According to the hospital staff's complaint, troupe leader Keshav Thakur sought discharge around midnight. The attending medical officer said Thakur remained under treatment and could leave only with the consultant's approval. Party workers then went to the hospital and questioned doctors about scans performed on the injured. The doctor said the scans were necessary for patients with head injuries.

“

The boys were from Virar and they wanted to be discharged. The hospital insisted on a 24-hour observation. We wanted to make a payment and paid ₹10,000.

The treatment bill for the five Govindas totaled ₹19,866. A representative of the Dahi Handi organizers had paid ₹10,000. The dispute escalated when party functionaries allegedly abused and threatened hospital staff, slapped a receptionist and entered the restricted intensive care unit, where three other patients were admitted.

Police registered a complaint against 17 people, including district chief Kundan Sankhe, city chief Rahul Gharat and Rohit Gavit, the son of local MLA Rajendra Gavit. Hospital CCTV reportedly showed Gharat slapping receptionist Vivek Jhinga. Jhinga said Sankhe arrived with a group, abused a doctor and told them, "Enter the hospital, do not spare these doctors." Sankhe defended the group's actions and called it a "small incident."

“

Small incident