The Kalyan Sessions Court rejected a request by Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre to appear via video conference on July 10 [1].

The ruling underscores the court's insistence on physical presence for defendants in violent crime cases, particularly those involving public servants. The decision prevents the use of remote technology to bypass personal appearance when the judiciary deems it necessary for the legal process.

Mhatre was produced in person before the court after his plea for a video hearing was denied [2]. The corporator had sought the remote appearance citing health issues, but the court ordered his physical production [3].

The legal proceedings stem from an incident where Mhatre allegedly assaulted doctors at a government hospital in Dombivli [2]. The assault on healthcare professionals in a public facility has drawn significant attention to the safety of medical staff in Maharashtra.

Following the hearing, the court remanded Mhatre to police custody [4]. He will remain in custody until July 13 [4].

The case continues to move through the Kalyan Sessions Court as investigators examine the circumstances of the hospital assault [2]. The physical appearance of the accused is a standard requirement for certain stages of the remand process, a requirement the court maintained despite the defendant's health claims [3].

“The Kalyan Sessions Court rejected a request by Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre to appear via video conference.”

This development reflects a judicial trend in India to limit the use of video conferencing for high-profile defendants in criminal cases. By denying the request and ordering physical production, the court signals that administrative or health-related conveniences will not override the procedural requirements of a violent crime investigation involving public health officials.