Two men, Gokul Jha (25) and his brother Ranjit Jha, were arrested on Tuesday night in connection with the assault of a female receptionist at a pediatric clinic in Nandivli, Dombivli. The incident, which took place on Monday, sparked outrage after videos of the altercation went viral on social media.
Police confirmed that both men were produced before a local court on Wednesday under tight security and have been remanded to police custody for two days. According to the FIR, the victim, Sonali Kalasare, was allegedly abused, kicked, and had her hair pulled by Gokul Jha after she asked him to wait for his turn at the clinic.
The altercation reportedly began after Gokul became agitated upon seeing the doctor speaking to a medical representative. Despite being told his turn hadn’t come, he tried to force his way into the consultation room, leading to a confrontation.
A viral video from the clinic shows another woman, believed to be a family member of the accused, also slapping the receptionist. The accused’s mother later told reporters that the receptionist had initially slapped her daughter-in-law, prompting Gokul to retaliate in anger.
The accused’s lawyer claimed the incident was not motivated by regional bias but was instead a spur-of-the-moment reaction.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Zende confirmed that three prior criminal cases were already registered against Gokul Jha at different police stations. The victim is currently hospitalized, and authorities are in the process of collecting CCTV footage, medical records, and witness testimonies.
Zende added, “If further evidence emerges, additional legal sections will be applied.”
