THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
A senior Merchant Navy officer has approached the High Court of Bombay at Goa after private banks froze his Non-Resident External (NRE) salary and bank accounts because he boarded a vessel through Iran during an emergency crew change. The voyage later allegedly led to his name being included on a US Treasury Department sanctions list.
In his petition, the officer described the freezing of his accounts as "arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional". He argued that he has been denied access to his salary and banking facilities despite not violating any Indian law.
The officer, a resident of Carmona in South Goa, has made the Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, the Reserve Bank of India, the Goa government, the Director of NRI Affairs, the Directorate General of Shipping and three others respondents in the case.
According to the petition, the dispute arose from his contract aboard 'MT Lioness'. He joined the vessel on June 10, 2024, after its master had to leave because of his mother's death. As the vessel was in international waters off the Iranian coast, the officer travelled to Iran and boarded the ship there. He remained on board until February 4, 2025.
The petition stated that he travelled to Iran legally on his Indian passport, completed all visa and port formalities, and joined the vessel as part of his professional duties.
"The vessel's location at that time required the petitioner to board in international waters near the coast of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as it was the nearest practical point to join the ongoing voyage," the petition stated. It also said that the officer has no business or commercial dealings with Iran.
"I have no business with Iran. I joined my vessel through Iran during my last contract in an emergency after the officer I relieved had to leave following his mother's death," the petition quoted him as saying.
The petitioner has sought relief from the High Court against the continued freezing of his salary and bank accounts. The court has issued notices to the respondents and posted the matter for hearing on July 28.
