A court remanded all nine accused to police custody until September 16, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 23. Eight Shiv Sena functionaries accused of assaulting doctors and medical staff at a private hospital in Palghar on September 5 surrendered before the Palghar police on Sunday. Police also arrested Sahil Raut, the driver of accused Shiv Sena functionary Sairaj Patil, during the day. Nine accused sent to police custody till September 16 All nine accused were produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) late on Sunday night. The court remanded them to police custody until September 16. The court also extended the police custody of Shiv Sena city chief Rahul Gharat and 12 members of a Govinda troupe, who had been arrested earlier, until September 16. The developments came two days after the Bombay High Court criticised the Palghar police over what it described as a “most lackadaisical” investigation into the assault on doctors and hospital staff. The court directed the Special Inspector General of Police, Konkan division, to review the probe and submit a report by September 17. On the same day, the investigating officer in the case was changed for the third time.

Investigating officer changed three times

Police sub-inspector Vinayak Kesarkar was initially appointed as the investigating officer in the case. On September 8, Palghar Sub-Divisional Police Officer Umesh Gawali took charge of the investigation. Three days later, on September 11, Dahanu SDPO Nisha Jadhav was appointed as the new investigating officer. The case relates to an incident at Relief Hospital in Palghar on September 5, when a group of Shiv Sena functionaries allegedly assaulted doctors and medical staff following a dispute over the treatment and discharge of Govindas injured during Dahi Handi celebrations. Palghar police initially registered a case against 17 people, including Shiv Sena Palghar district chief Kundan Sankhe, city chief Rahul Gharat and deputy taluka chief Rohit Gavit. The party later suspended the three leaders along with four other accused functionaries.

Rahul Gharat surrendered before police on September 7. Rohit Gavit, the son of MLA Rajendra Gavit, was arrested on September 11 and was subsequently remanded in police custody until September 16. The eight functionaries who surrendered on Sunday were Manish Sankhe, Rahul Sankhe, Sairaj Patil, Kundan Sankhe, Nilam Sankhe, Shubham Bandiwadekar, Manoj Gharat and Vrushab Vare. Six of them - Manish Sankhe, Rahul Sankhe, Sairaj Patil, Kundan Sankhe, Nilam Sankhe and Shubham Bandiwadekar — had also filed applications for anticipatory bail, with their hearing scheduled for September 15. With the arrest of Sahil Raut, the total number of arrests in connection with the case has risen to 23.