Police refuse clean chit to both ships’ captains

The masters of MSC Chitra and MV Khalijia-III, the two ships that collided in Mumbai harbour on August 7, triggering an environmental and navigational crisis, are in for more trouble.

The masters of MSC Chitra and MV Khalijia-III, the two ships that collided in Mumbai harbour on August 7, triggering an environmental and navigational crisis, are in for more trouble.

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The report prepared by the Yellow Gate police station, which had registered a case of criminal negligence against the two ship masters, has refused to give them a clean-chit.

The report is likely to be submitted in the sessions court on Wednesday during the hearing of the anticipatory bail plea of the captain of MV Khalijia III, Laxman Dubey.

Highly-placed sources at the Yellow Gate police station told Hindustan Times on Tuesday that the police, in its report, had cited non-cooperation of both ship masters — Mandeleno Martin Ranjit (of MSC Chitra) and Dubey (of Khalijia-III) during the investigation.

“They gave us incomplete documents and did not part with crucial papers concerning the exact location of both ships at the time of the collision. Our investigation cannot be completed due to this,” said a senior official from the Yellow Gate police station, quoting the report.

“We want to question them further. We fear that they might try to flee the country, which will hamper the investigation,” Khaleed said, adding that the police would also press for confiscation of their passports.

Sources, meanwhile, said the police were yet to arrive at a definite conclusion over the allegation (made by both ship masters) that they had received no alert from the VTMS (Vessels Traffic Management System) of the port management.

“We have already questioned the concerned person handling the VTMS at that time. However, we are waiting for the DG Shipping’s report for corroboration,” sources added.

Dubey had earlier moved anticipatory bail plea in the sessions court fearing arrest.

The court had given him reprieve till August 18.