Court Finds Doctor Guilty of Obstructing Public Servant
Thane: The Thane Additional Sessions Court, presided over by Judge V.L. Bhosale, has convicted 36-year-old Dr. Hemantkumar Deshmukh for assaulting a traffic police officer and obstructing him from performing his duties.
Fine Imposed Instead of Custodial Sentence
Dr. Deshmukh was ordered to pay a fine of ₹5,000 for assaulting a public servant, with a default penalty of five months’ simple imprisonment. Additionally, he was fined ₹100 for improper parking, failing which he would serve three days in jail.
Incident at Hafija Chowk
The case dates back to August 16, 2018, when Deshmukh was caught driving in the wrong direction at Hafija Chowk, Thane. Traffic officer Chandrakant Hiraman Pawar, who was on duty for a candle march event, stopped the vehicle and asked for Deshmukh’s driving license.
Instead of complying, Deshmukh allegedly shouted at the officer, handed over his car keys, and said, “Do whatever you want.” When Pawar insisted, the doctor reportedly assaulted him, pushed him, and issued threats. The altercation was witnessed by shopkeepers and passersby and was partially recorded by a woman accompanying Deshmukh.
Court Rejects Doctor’s Defense
During the trial, four witnesses, including Pawar, testified against Deshmukh. The court ruled that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Deshmukh used criminal force against the officer.
Deshmukh claimed he had previously filed a non-cognizable complaint (NC) against the officer, but the court dismissed this defense, stating that no evidence was submitted to support the claim.
While the prosecution sought maximum punishment, Deshmukh’s lawyer requested leniency, citing his medical profession and his son’s health issues. Taking into account that it was his first offense, the court imposed a fine rather than a jail sentence, with imprisonment only in case of non-payment.
