After ship captain’s arrest in UK, family in Nainital struggles to cope

Dehradun: The arrest of Captain Ajay Pant in the UK has left his family in Kumaon’s Nainital district under strain, forcing them to avoid stepping out even for basic errands as news of his arrest has triggered constant questions from neighbours and visitors.

To reduce distress, his wife has also kept the family away from news channels and newspapers.Pant, 38, was arrested on June 14 while commanding MV Smyrtos, a sanctioned Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker, which the UK authorities intercepted in the English Channel. UK prosecutors alleged the vessel, stripped of its Cameroonian flag earlier this month, entered British territorial waters without a legitimate flag and was involved in supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil/oil products to a third country by ship, in violation of UK-Russia sanctions.

British agencies have launched an investigation into the matter.At home, Pant’s wife, Ritu, said the family is struggling both emotionally and practically, as he was the sole breadwinner. “I have stopped switching on news channels and bringing newspapers home to shield my elderly parents-in-law and children from the coverage,” she told TOI on Sunday.Ritu, who first learned of her husband’s arrest through British media reports on social media, added that she is pursuing legal options and that she was in touch with authorities in India as well as the UK.

What is adding to the family’s distress is the mounting public scrutiny. “Every time anyone from the family steps out of the house even for daily needs, people surround us with questions. It is only disturbing us more. I am trying to be mentally prepared for the battle to ensure the safe release of my husband, as he is innocent,” Ritu said, adding that they plan to meet the chief minister to apprise him of the case and seek intervention in his release.Uttarakhand home secretary Shailesh Bagauli had earlier said that the state govt has written to the external affairs ministry. “We have sought the required assistance from the ministry to ensure Pant’s release at the earliest. Our officials are in constant coordination with their counterparts in the Centre,” Bagauli had told TOI on Friday.