Palghar Hospital Row: 17 Shiv Sena Leaders Booked Over Alleged Attack After Dahi Handi Dispute

Seventeen Shiv Sena members have been charged following an alleged late-night altercation at Relief Hospital in Palghar following a Dahi Handi celebration on September 5. The hospital claimed that Sena leaders and volunteers entered the premises, verbally abused a female doctor, threatened to damage the hospital, and physically assaulted a staff member over the treatment and discharge of injured Govindas troupe members.

Prominent Shiv Sena figures implicated in the FIR include Palghar district chief Kundan Sankhe, city chief Rahul Gharat, Rohit Gavit, son of MLAs Rajendra Gavit, and other party workers. The Dahi Handi event took place at Shivaji Chowk on the Palghar-Manor highway. Seven of the injured troupe members required medical attention, including CT scans and X-rays.

The dispute reportedly began due to financial disagreements. The hospital requested ₹19,866, while organizers paid ₹10,000, with the remaining balance allegedly promised by the Sena district chief. Police allege that around 1:15 am, Sankhe and others confronted hospital staff about scans and threatened to destroy the facility. They allegedly abused a doctor, slapped an employee, and pressured staff to release ICU patients.

The Shiv Sena denies these claims, stating that their visit was to address complaints about minor injuries. Relief Hospital's orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Vishal Kodgirkar, emphasized the severity of the incident, noting that a critically injured patient was forcibly removed from the ICU and created panic among other gravely ill patients.