TN court grants bail to crew members of US ship

A court in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, on Thursday granted bail to 35 crew members of US ship MV Seaman Guard Ohio. The police did not file chargesheet against the sailors even after 60 days of their arrest.

A court in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, on Thursday granted bail to 35 crew members of US ship MV Seaman Guard Ohio.

The police did not file chargesheet against the sailors even after 60 days of their arrest. Each member of the crew was ordered to pay a surety of Rs 10,000. The court directed all of them to remain in Tuticorin till further orders.

The Tamil Nadu police on October 18 had arrested and questioned 35 people aboard a ship operated by a US firm for allegedly carrying guns and straying into Indian waters without proper permits.

The Coast Guard had stopped and detained the ship on October 12 before escorting it to the port of Tuticorin, 600 km south of state capital Chennai.

The Madras high court bench in Madurai had dismissed bail petitions of all the crew members on December 18, stating the probe was in the initial stage and their release could affect the investigation.