Pune: Following the registration of a case, police take action for arrest and subsequently, the accused are sent to jail after the investigation. After being placed in judicial custody, the accused typically apply for bail.

However, many individuals find themselves unable to secure release due to financial constraints, particularly the inability to pay the required bail amount. Currently, 60 accused individuals are stuck in Yerawada Central Jail for this reason.

To address the legal challenges faced by these accused individuals, the District Legal Services Authority has initiated a special campaign aimed at understanding their needs.

The campaign revealed that while the 60 accused had obtained bail orders, they were unable to fulfill the financial requirements imposed by the court, preventing their release.

The DLSA documented various requests from inmates: 160 applications for medical treatment at Sassoon Hospital, 55 requests for legal representation, 80 requests for video conferencing with lawyers, 15 applications for appeals in the Supreme Court, and 42 applications for appeals in the High Court.

In addition to the bail issue, 25 accused individuals have applied for transfers to different jails. They cited reasons such as the absence of family members or relatives in Pune, ongoing disputes within the jail, and the necessity of attending hearings for cases registered in different locations throughout the state.

Among the accused, a significant number of seniors are facing health issues. A total of 160 individuals have requested medical treatment at Sassoon Hospital, expressing their need for proper healthcare due to various age-related ailments.

The DLSA has committed to conducting medical examinations for these applicants and will ensure that the necessary follow-ups are made to facilitate their treatment.

Recently, a special initiative was launched to comprehend the legal requests of those serving sentences and those whose cases are ongoing in Yerawada Jail.

Various applications have been received during this campaign, and the authority plans to take appropriate actions based on these requests. Sonal Patil, Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, stated that judicial facilities essential for the prisoners would be made accessible through their office.