Man held over Mumbai hotelier assault gets rejected bail, approaches Bombay high court

THANE: The prime accused, a builder involved in a violent assault case against a 41-year-old hotelier from Bhandup, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking bail relief after the Thane sessions court rejected his bail application of builder.The High Court hearing is scheduled for Monday, with lawyers presenting their arguments on Friday during preliminary proceedings, said a police officer familiar with the case.The case stems from a brutal incident that occurred on July 16 at an office in Thane’s Wagle Estate, where the hotelier was allegedly assaulted by a mob of around 21 men during what started as a minor dispute. According to police investigations, the violent altercation took place around 3:15 PM when the victim arrived at the Wagle Estate premises for a routine business discussion with other builders and the office owner.The situation escalated rapidly when a group of men suddenly barged into the office premises and began attacking those present without warning. Police officials described the assault as particularly vicious, with the attackers punching and kicking the hotelier and others while simultaneously ransacking the office space. The assailants used whatever objects they could find as weapons, including cups, paperweights, flower pots, and other office equipment to inflict damage on the victims and property.The victim sustained multiple serious injuries during the attack, including a severe blow to his private parts, requiring immediate medical attention and hospitalisation.An FIR was registered on July 16 under multiple stringent sections of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Shri Nagar police station in Thane. The main accused builder, along with 20 other individuals. Police have also added attempt to murder charges to the case and seized his licensed firearm as part of the investigation.Police investigations suggest that the altercation was triggered by a small argument involving the accused’s son. The police earlier arrested several co-accused in the case, with some of them securing bail from the courts.The case has been registered under various serious sections including unlawful assembly, rioting, house-trespass, criminal intimidation, mischief, voluntarily causing hurt, and attempt to murder, making it one of the most serious assault cases registered in the area recently.