Besides strict action against the alleged offenders, the doctors on strike demanded extra security cover and a check on the trend of patients coming with political references.

According to the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), the incident took place at around 9 pm on Sunday when relatives of Gangaram Kadam (67), who was being treated for unstable angina, were asked by Dr Amol Bhansode to wait outside the emergency medical services (EMS) ward.

“Over 14 relatives were present in the EMS ward and were disturbing Dr Amol Bhansode while he was treating the patient. On being asked to wait in the corridor outside the ward, the relatives started abusing Dr Bhansode and one of them came forward and slapped him. A corporator was also present among the patient’s relatives,” said Dr Ravikant Sigh, joint secretary, MARD.

Dr M E Yeolekar, dean of KEM hospital said, “A complaint has been filed in the Bhoiwada police station against the relatives of the patient which also includes a corporator.”

The doctors also alleged that none of the security personnel was present at the time of the incident.

“After a relative slapped the doctor, one of the nurses rushed out for help from a security guard. However, of the five security guards on night duty, only one was present who also refused to help fearing the presence of the corporator,” said Dr Singh.

“It is a gross security lapse and we cannot work in such conditions. We want immediate suspension of the security guards who were not present at that time,” said Dr Deepak Pathak, general secretary of MARD, KEM hospital.

Ambadas Gadade, senior police inspector of Bhoiwada police station, said, “We have registered an FIR and have booked three offenders, including the corporator, under Sections 352 and 332 for causing hurt and assaulting public servant.”

However, Kadam’s son-in-law, Ram Sigh, who reached the hospital after the incident took place denied any misbehaviour with the doctor and said, “None of the relatives manhandled the doctor.”

Senior doctors along with the chief security officer from the BMC, Pravin Sawardekar, inspected the hospital on Monday and said that the security needs to be increased. “We have suggested a special squad which is present in the main security office, to be shifted next to the EMS ward.”

When asked about the shortage of security staff, Sawardekar replied, “There is a shortage of security personnel, but only around the EMS ward. We are awaiting the inquiry report which will confirm whether there was a security lapse at the time of the incident or not. Also, tenders have been passed to provide CCTVs in a few city hospitals which would be installed in a three months’ time.”