An Indian merchant navy captain was held in the United Kingdom over an alleged violation of Russian oil sanctions, with his wife terming him a 'scapegoat'An Indian merchant navy captain was held in the United Kingdom over an alleged violation of Russian oil sanctions, with his wife terming him a "scapegoat".
The 38-year-old captain, Ajay Pant, who is a resident of Ramnagar in Uttarakhand, was arrested after the British authorities intercepted the oil tanker Smyrtos, which he was captaining, in the English Channel.
“My husband just became the scapegoat,” his wife Ritu Pant, 36, told AFP.
“He was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”AdvertisementThe remarks came right after the British prosecutors accused the Indian merchant navy captain of directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil or oil products by ship to a third country.
As per British law, Pant has the right to a fair trial, but his lawyers warn that there is a wrong road ahead.
An Indian merchant navy captain was held in the United Kingdom over an alleged violation of Russian oil sanctions, with his wife terming him a 'scapegoat'
An Indian merchant navy captain was held in the United Kingdom over an alleged violation of Russian oil sanctions, with his wife terming him a "scapegoat". The 38-year-old captain, Ajay Pant, who is a resident of Ramnagar in Uttarakhand, was arrested after the British authorities intercepted the oil tanker Smyrtos, which he was captaining, in the English Channel.
According to AFP, the arrest took place in June, and Pant has been charged with sanctions offences that carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. The report suggested that the trial in the case will begin on December 15. “My husband just became the scapegoat,” his wife Ritu Pant, 36, told AFP. “He was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
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The remarks came right after the British prosecutors accused the Indian merchant navy captain of directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil or oil products by ship to a third country. However, Pant has denied any wrongdoing. As per British law, Pant has the right to a fair trial, but his lawyers warn that there is a wrong road ahead.
How it went down
On June 14, the British commander intercepted the Smyrtos in the English Channel. The authorities alleged that the vessel was part of Russia's shadow fleet, which is a network of ships with unclear ownership and insurance that Moscow uses to evade oil sanctions imposed after it invaded Ukraine in 2022, AFP reported.
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According to MarineTraffic data, the Smyrtos had left the Russian port of Ust-Luga on June 5 and was heading towards Egypt’s Port Said before it was intercepted. As per the report, the tanker was carrying about 98,000 tonnes of oil.
India extends support
Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has maintained that consular officials had visited Pant to check on his well-being, according to AFP. It is pertinent to note that Pant was the only sailor among the crew to be charged. Most of the other 24 crew members have since returned home, while the vessel remains anchored off England’s southern coast.
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Earlier, the Indian High Commission in London said that it was monitoring Pant’s case. In June, the High Commission told the Uttarakhand government that Pant was in judicial custody at HMP Winchester. Indian officials spoke to him on June 19, when Pant said he was in good health, was receiving medical care and was regularly in touch with his wife, PTI reported.
With inputs from agencies.
