The Supreme Court has ordered the Ministry of External Affairs to coordinate with Indian embassies in Ukraine and Romania to find a sailor missing since July 25. Deepak Kumar Gupta disappeared after a drone strike on his cargo vessel, the MV AGN Ragnar, near Odesa. The court intervention follows a plea from the sailor's family, who reported a lack of response from government authorities.
The Supreme Court of India on Monday issued a directive to the Ministry of External Affairs to prioritize diplomatic efforts to locate Deepak Kumar Gupta, a 22-year-old sailor who went missing following a military incident in the Black Sea. The court's intervention comes after the family of the missing crew member filed a petition expressing deep frustration over the lack of communication and search progress from official channels since the incident occurred on July 25.
Court Mandates Diplomatic Coordination
A bench led by Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, heard the plea submitted by the sailor's brother, Sandeep Kumar Gupta. The court has instructed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to actively gather information from the Indian embassies in Ukraine and Romania. The primary objective is to clarify the current status and whereabouts of Gupta, who was serving as a crew member on the merchant vessel MV AGN Ragnar at the time of the drone attack near the Ukrainian port of Odesa.
Family Alleges Lack of Official Response
The petition presented to the court details the challenges faced by the family, who hail from the Siwan district of Bihar and are currently based in Bareilly. The family stated that they reached out to the Union of India and relevant Indian embassies repeatedly between July 26 and July 30, seeking assistance and information. According to the court filing, these attempts to secure a status update or an assurance of search operations did not yield a positive response, leading the family to approach the judiciary for help. The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing on this matter for this coming Friday.
Maritime Risks and Operational Context
For investors and observers tracking maritime operations in the Black Sea, this incident underscores the ongoing operational risks in the region due to the conflict. Merchant vessels operating near Ukrainian ports continue to face security threats from drones and other military activity, which can lead to sudden interruptions in trade, safety concerns for personnel, and potential liabilities for shipping companies and their insurers. The focus for stakeholders will now remain on the upcoming update from the Ministry of External Affairs and any subsequent information regarding the status of the crew members aboard the MV AGN Ragnar.