An Indian captain of a 'sanctioned' Russian shadow- fleet oil tanker has been arrested in the UK and appeared in court charged with breaching sanctions. The tanker was intercepted by British armed forces while passing through the English Channel on its way from Russia to India. His family in Uttarakhand has appealed to the Indian government to help secure his safe return.
38 year old Ajay Pant is a resident of Nainital. He appeared via video link at Southampton magistrates’ court from Bournemouth PS on June 16, charged with “directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil from Russia to a third country by ship, in contravention of Regulation 46Z9B of Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019”.