Indian Ship Captain Charged in UK for Alleged Russia Sanctions Violation; Family Seeks Government Help

LONDON/DEHRADUN: Ajay Pant, a 38-year-old Indian national from Nainital, Uttarakhand, has been charged in a UK court for allegedly breaching sanctions on Russian oil. Pant was the captain of the MV Smyrtos, a tanker intercepted by British armed forces while crossing the English Channel. He appeared via video link at Southampton Magistrates' Court on June 16.

The charge states that Pant “directly or indirectly supplied or delivered prohibited Russian oil from Russia to a third country, in contravention of Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.” The maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years imprisonment.

According to the prosecution, Royal Marines and the National Crime Agency boarded the vessel on June 14 after it entered UK territorial waters without a legitimate flag. Pant was arrested that evening and has been remanded in custody. The case has been sent to Bournemouth Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on July 16.

Pant’s solicitor, James Diamond, told the court that his client was “simply following orders from those in the corporation” and that “it was not his choice as to where this vessel was going or the cargo it was carrying.”

The vessel, MV Smyrtos, had loaded 1,01,400 tonnes of Urals crude from Russia's Ust-Luga terminal on June 4 and was en route to Sikka, Gujarat, India, according to maritime data firm Lloyd's List. The tanker had been flying the Cameroonian flag since December, but Cameroon removed it and 35 other shadow-fleet vessels from its registry earlier this year.

Uttarakhand home secretary Shailesh Bagauli said the state government has written to India's Ministry of External Affairs seeking assistance for Pant's release and return. The Indian High Commission in the UK has been granted consular access to Pant and is in contact with British authorities.

Twenty-four crew members from Georgia and India remain on board the vessel, which is anchored off Weymouth in Dorset and being monitored for environmental and safety concerns.

Pant’s wife, Ritu, said she learned of her husband’s arrest through British media reports and has not received official communication from either UK or Indian authorities. She said her husband has had a “spotless” maritime career of over 15 years and was “just following orders.” She expressed concern for his safety in British custody and appealed to the Indian government for his safe return.

Manoj Yadav, general secretary of the Forward Seamen’s Union of India, said: “Sanctions are not related to seafarers. Why was no objection raised when they joined this vessel at a seaport? Most of the time, the crew is not aware if a vessel is sanctioned or not. The British government can take the vessel or destroy it, but why detain the crew?”