Mumbai : A 25‑year‑old man, identified as Gokul (also reported as Gopal) Jha, was arrested on Tuesday evening by Manpada police following a savage assault on a female receptionist at a private paediatric clinic in Kalyan, Thane district. The attack, caught on CCTV and circulating widely on social media, occurred on Monday evening when the receptionist refused Jha entry without an appointment. Enraged, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, Jha kicked her, dragged her by her hair, and punched her multiple times on the reception floor until other patients’ relatives intervened .
The 25‑year‑old victim sustained critical injuries and is currently being treated at Janaki Hospital in Dombivli . According to the FIR, Jha has a previous criminal record and had been released on bail from earlier cases . He has been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including assault, use of obscene language, and outraging the modesty of a woman .
Local political figures, including BJP’s Ravindra Chavan and Shiv Sena’s Dipesh Mhatre, have strongly condemned the assault and urged swift legal action . Police have emphasized that such violence will not be tolerated and confirmed that Jha was taken into custody and will be presented before a magistrate.
This shocking incident highlights growing concerns about the safety of healthcare support staff in India and has reignited calls for stricter protections for hospital employees.
