UK Court Denies Bail to Indian Captain of Sanctioned Russian Oil Vessel
A London court has denied bail to Ajay Pant, a 38-year-old Indian merchant navy captain, who is facing prosecution in the United Kingdom for allegedly violating British sanctions by commanding a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker. The decision means Pant will remain in judicial custody while criminal proceedings continue over what UK authorities describe as one of the country’s most significant sanctions enforcement actions since the imposition of restrictions on Russian oil exports.
Pant was the master of the MV Smyrtos, a tanker intercepted by British armed forces and the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the English Channel last month. According to investigators, the vessel was allegedly transporting nearly 98,000 tonnes of Russian crude oil destined for a third country despite UK sanctions. Authorities contend that the tanker formed part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”—a network of vessels allegedly used to circumvent Western restrictions on Russian energy exports.
The Indian captain has been charged under Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which prohibits the direct or indirect supply or delivery of certain Russian oil and petroleum products to third countries. If convicted, Pant could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years, reflecting the UK’s increasingly stringent enforcement of sanctions introduced following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
During the bail hearing, prosecutors argued that the allegations involve the transportation of oil worth a substantial amount and concern serious offences under the UK’s sanctions regime. They maintained that the gravity of the charges justified continued detention pending further proceedings. The court accepted the prosecution’s submissions and refused to release the accused on bail.
Pant’s defence has maintained that he was merely performing his duties as a ship’s master and had no role in determining the ownership of the cargo, the vessel’s commercial operations or its destination. His lawyer argued before the court that Pant was “simply following orders” as an employee and should not be held personally responsible for decisions made by the shipping company or vessel operators. No plea has yet been recorded on the charges.
The interception of the MV Smyrtos marked the first publicly announced UK operation involving the boarding and seizure of a suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker. Royal Marines, supported by the National Crime Agency, boarded the vessel in a coordinated operation after authorities alleged it had entered UK territorial waters without a legitimate flag. The ship remains detained while investigations continue, and its multinational crew, comprising Indian and Georgian nationals, has remained on board.
The case has also drawn attention in India, where Pant’s family in Uttarakhand has appealed to the Government of India to provide diplomatic and legal assistance. They have expressed concern that the captain is being prosecuted for actions allegedly undertaken in the ordinary course of his employment and have sought intervention to ensure that he receives a fair trial and appropriate consular support.
The prosecution is being closely watched by maritime lawyers and the global shipping industry because it represents one of the first criminal cases against the master of a vessel accused of participating in Russia’s shadow fleet operations. The outcome is expected to clarify the extent of criminal liability that may attach to ship captains under sanctions laws, particularly where they claim to have acted solely under the instructions of their employers.
