The Supreme Court has cancelled the bail of Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre, accused of assaulting doctors and hospital staff at a municipal hospital in Dombivli, Maharashtra.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta set aside the Bombay High Court's August 7 order granting bail and directed the 73-year-old Mhatre to surrender within three days. "The message must go loud and clear. Medical fraternity cannot be touched and attacked in this manner," Justice Mehta said.

The case stems from a July 6 incident at the Shastri Nagar Municipal Hospital, where Mhatre and others allegedly attacked doctors — including a woman doctor — over the treatment of a pregnant woman. Mhatre faces charges including assaulting public servants, rioting and offences under the Maharashtra Medicare Act, 2010.

The Maharashtra government had challenged the bail order. Mhatre's counsel argued he had spent 19 days in custody, the trial had begun, and he was acquitted in 18 of 19 criminal cases cited against him.

The ruling matters because attacks on healthcare workers have been rising. The court clearly wants the deterrent to be unmistakable.