The Supreme Court on September 28 stayed the Bombay High Court order granting bail to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre in the Dombivli doctors’ assault case. He has been directed to surrender within three days.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said the message should go out loud and clear that the medical fraternity cannot be attacked. ‘They serve people and cannot be attacked in this manner,’ the court said.

The court was hearing the Maharashtra government’s plea seeking cancellation of bail. The incident took place on July 6 at Shastri Nagar Municipal Hospital in Dombivli, reportedly over the treatment of a pregnant patient.

The High Court had granted bail on August 7 with conditions, including that Mhatre stay outside Maharashtra until the chargesheet was filed. Police have filed a 1,832-page chargesheet naming four other accused.

Mhatre faces 19 cases, including this one. His counsel said he was acquitted in 18 of them, and the court has called for records of those cases. The court had earlier signalled it may cancel the bail; the next hearing will decide the final outcome.