Bail plea of 35 crew members of detained US ship rejected

Tuticorin: A sessions court on Wednesday rejected the bail petitions of the 35 crew members of US ship MV Seaman Guard Ohio, arrested on October 18 on charges of illegally carrying arms and straying into Indian waters.

Judge Paul Durai rejected their bail petitions when the matter came up for hearing before him.

The crew members of the US merchant ship MV Seaman was intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard on October 12 following which it was detained off the coast of Tamil Nadu.

They have been booked under Arms Act and Essential Commodities Act.

None of the 21 foreign nationals on board are beleievd to have valid visas. Also it is being said that the ship refueled 1,500 tonnes of diesel from unauthorized dealers.

(With inputs from PTI)