The 120 Somalian pirates who are currently lodged at Taloja Jail will henceforth not be brought to court, but will face the trial via video-conferencing.
The order was passed by the Sewri sessions court following confusion after the jailor of Taloja Jail sent the accused to court, without receiving a summons from the court. The trial in the case will now begin from April 9 in the Sewri sessions court.
Further, as six vans and around 40 personnel will be needed to handle the pirates, the court observed that this option was most feasible.
“It is a waste of time, as well as manpower,” the court observed, while passing the oral order.
Advocate Sooraj Hulke, who was appointed as the amices curiae said, “The court asked for our confirmation in conducting the trial via video-conferencing and we all accepted it, as it was difficult for the police and the court to accommodate all the accused. Moreover, the jail in which they are lodged, already has a webcam installed in the prison. Hence, we found it to be a sensible decision.”
Special public prosecutor advocate Ranjeet Sangle confirmed the development. “Further, some of the witnesses include high ranking officials of the Navy, and it is not possible for them to attend the hearings due to official reasons,” he said.
The Sewri court has framed the accused under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act, in addition to attempt to murder, unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and for carrying weapons under the Indian Penal Code. They have also been booked for waging war against the Government of India.