The Indian captain of a banned Russian oil tanker coming from Russia to India was stopped by the British Armed Forces while crossing the English Channel. The captain has been arrested in Britain. He has been produced in the court accusing him of violating the restrictions. The name of the captain is Ajay Pant who is a resident of Uttarakhand. His family has appealed to the Indian government to ensure his safe return.
According to the information, 31-year-old Nainital resident Ajay Pant was produced in the Southampton Magistrates Court through video link from Bournemouth Police Station on June 16. He is accused of directly or indirectly supplying or delivering banned Russian oil by ship from Russia to a third country in violation of Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia Sanctions EU Exit Regulation 2019.
Captain Pant’s lawyer argued
Captain Pant’s lawyer James Diamond told the court, ‘It was not his choice where this ship was going or what cargo was loaded in it. He was simply following the orders of the company officials. He is just an employee who is doing his job and is now before the British court.
There can be a punishment of 10 years
Prosecutor Varun Chuni said that on June 14, the Royal Marines and the National Crime Agency raided the MV Smyrtos when it entered British waters without a legal flag. Pant, who was identified as the captain of the ship, was arrested and sent to custody. District Judge David Robinson sent the case to Bournemouth Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 16 July. The maximum punishment for this crime is 10 years.
The state government wrote a letter to the Center
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli said that the state government has written a letter to the Centre. He said, ‘We have sought help from MEA two days ago for Pant’s release and return. Our regional commissioner based in Delhi is coordinating with the central officials.
The Indian High Commission in Britain has been given consular permission to meet Pant. Twenty-four crew members from Georgia and India are still on board the ship, which is anchored off Weymouth, Dorset, and is being monitored for environmental and safety concerns.
‘My husband’s career remained impeccable’
Pant’s wife Ritu said that she came to know about her husband’s arrest through British media reports on social media, while no official information was given by the British or Indian authorities. He said that his maritime career of more than 15 years had been impeccable and he was only the captain of the ship following the orders of his company and there was no fault in him.
unflagged ship
According to Lloyd’s List, Smyrtos had loaded 1,01,400 tonnes of Urals crude from Russia’s Ust-Luga terminal on June 4 and was headed to Sikka port in Gujarat. This tanker had been sailing under the Cameroon flag since December, but Cameroon removed it and 35 shadow fleet ships from its registry this month, making the ship without the flag of any country.
In the first UK-led operation of its kind, Royal Marine Commandos landed on the tanker at night from a Chinook helicopter and NCA officers examined its documents. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had personally directed the operation and called it another blow to Russia.
Smyrtos is subject to EU and UK sanctions from October 2025. Britain’s Defense Ministry has described it as part of a secret fleet of 700 ships that transports 75% of Russia’s banned oil exports and helps finance the war against Ukraine.
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