HC grants conditional bail to Captain of ship

The Madras High Court's Madurai bench today granted conditional bail to Dudinik Valentine, captain of the US firm owned ship M V Seaman Guard Ohio.
Granting the conditional bail, Justice K Kalyanasundaram said the Madras High Court had already quashed invoking of Arms Act against the crew of the ship and criminal cases against them. Only case under essential commodities act was pending.
Coast Guard authorities had detained the ship on October 12 last year off Tuticorin port on charges of trespassing in Indian waters and carrying arms and ammunition without licence. Police arrested the crew on October 18 and they remained in judicial custody for about six months.

Of the 35 crew members, 34, including 12 Indians and Vice-Captain Paul David Dennis Towers (a British) were granted bail earlier. The court refused bail to Dudenic Valentine (a Ukranian) then.
Munithevan, arrested for supplying diesel to the ship, was also granted bail.
Granting the conditional bail, the court directed the captain to provide two sureties for Rs 10000 each and sign at the police station every Monday till further orders.