The Madras High Court Bench here has directed the ‘Q’ Branch police to return certain personal belongings to the crew members of US-based anti-piracy ship MV Seaman Guard Ohio that was intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard and escorted to V.O.C. Port in Tuticorin in October 2013 on the charge of sailing into Indian waters without permission.
Passing orders on a petition filed jointly by 34 crew members, including 23 foreign nationals, seeking return of their passports, educational certificates and other articles, Justice S. Nagamuthu ordered that the police could at least return non-objectionable belongings after taking inventory of the articles seized at the time of arrest in the presence of the Judicial Magistrate I in Tuticorin.
Pending in SC
Though the High Court quashed a criminal case registered against the crew members in June 2014, the matter is at present pending before the Supreme Court following an appeal preferred by the State.
