India, Aug. 7 -- The Bombay high court on Friday granted bail to Shiv Sena councillor Ramesh Mhatre and a co-accused, days after they were arrested for allegedly assaulting doctors and staff members at a hospital in Dombivali, on the condition that the accused stay out of Maharashtra at least until a charge sheet is filed and charges are framed.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad said the investigation was nearing completion, and the accused could not be kept behind bars indefinitely, while transferring the case to a fast-track court in Kalyan.

"Rule of democracy is that the elected representative is by the people and for the people. If an elected representative is accused of assaulting his own vote...