HC orders ‘arrest’ of ‘cocaine’ ship in Paradip

Cuttack: The Orissa high court on Friday ordered the ‘arrest’ of a Panama-registered cargo ship anchored at the Paradip International Cargo Terminal (PICT).
Justice V Narasingh ordered the arrest of bulk carrier MV Debi on PICT’s admiralty suit involving maritime claim for recovery of dues of Rs 7.95 crore towards berth hire and penalty. PICT had filed the suit seeking arrest of the ship for enforcement of maritime claims under the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017.
In an interim order, the admiralty judge said, “PICT prima facie has been able to fortify its stand that the suit will be rendered infructuous unless the order to arrest the vessel is passed in exercise of the power of this court under Section 5(1) of the Act, 2017.”
“The defendant vessel MV Debi be arrested at Paradip port,” Justice Narasingh ordered while giving liberty to PICT to serve the warrant of arrest in the course of next 24 hours.The admiralty judge fixed March 7 for further consideration of the marital claim by PICT.
MV Debi had hit the headlines after 22 kg were seized from the ship on Dec 1, 2023.