The captain of merchant vessel MSC Chitra, which collided with another cargo ship resulting in the oil spill off Mumbai's coast, has been granted interim relief till August 18 by a local court today.
The captain had approached a local court seeking anticipatory bail. In his bail plea, the captain of MSC Chitra has stated that the collision was an accident and his custodial interrogation is not required.
The city police had registered a case against the captain and crew members of both the vessels under several sections of the IPC and the Environment Act.
Two Panamanian cargo ships -- MSC Chitra and MV Khalija-111 -- collided off the Mumbai coast causing an oil spill from one of the vessels.
Thirty three crew members, including two Pakistanis, were rescued following the incident.