Ogodo Immanuel Uchechukwa v. State Of Maharashtra

IRESH MASHAL MASHAL Date: 2023.08.03 14:09:33 +0530 4.1734.22 wp.docx Iresh

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 1734 OF 2022 Ogodo Immanuel Uchechukwa

...Petitioner

Versus

State of Maharashtra

...Respondent

Ms. Rebecca Gonsalves Advocate appointed for the petitioner Mrs. P. P. Shinde, APP for the State CORAM : REVATI MOHITE DERE & GAURI GODSE, JJ.

DATE : 31st JULY 2023.

P.C. :

1.

This petition is filed through jail, praying for permitting the petitioner to use the paid local call facility to communicate with his Advocate and relatives. Since the petition is filed through jail, we appointed an Advocate for the petitioner through Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority.

2.

The petitioner is a foreign national and is currently lodged in Taloja Central Prison. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that she was able to communicate with the petitioner through a video 1/2

4.1734.22 wp.docx call facility at Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority. She, on instructions of the petitioner, submitted that the petitioner wants to talk with his brother, who is also a foreign national. 3.

Learned APP has placed on record a report dated 31st July 2023 from the Jail Superintendent, Taloja. As per the said report, the petitioner is a Nigerian national and is lodged at Taloja Central Jail. The report further states that the details of the petitioner's brother are submitted to the jail authorities, and on verification of the same, the petitioner will be allowed to avail the facility of video calling. The report further states that the petitioner was allowed to talk to his Advocate through e-prison video-calling facility. Learned APP thus submitted that the petitioner will be allowed to talk to his relatives through e-prison video calling facility once in 15 days as per Government Circular dated 4th July 2023.

4.

In view of the aforesaid, no further directions are necessary in the matter, and hence, the writ petition is disposed of. GAURI GODSE, J.

REVATI MOHITE DERE, J.

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