Court grants MSC Chitra captain interim bail

MUMBAI: A local court today granted interim bail to the captain of merchant vessel MSC Chitra, which collided with another cargo ship off the city coast, after the prosecution sought time to file a reply on his anticipatory bail plea.

The captain, Mandeleno Ranjit Martin, had sought bail after an FIR was registered against him.

The prosecution sought time till August 18 to file their reply on the bail plea.

Principal Judge of the sessions court M L Tahalayani, while adjourning the matter, directed the city police not to arrest the captain till then.

Two Panamanian vessels -- MSC Chitra and MV Khalija-111 -- collided off the Mumbai coast on Saturday resulting in an oil spill.

An FIR was registered following the incident against the captain and the crew members of both the vessels under relevant sections of the IPC and Environment Protection Act.

They were booked under section 280 (Rash navigation of vessel), 336 (endangering life of others) and 427 (mischief causing damage) of IPC and relevant sections of the Environment Protection Act.