The Bombay High Court will hear a plea by kin of Dixit Solanki seeking urgent return of his body after a fatal drone-boat strike near Oman. The petition alleges lack of transparency by authorities and ship management.
About a month after 25-year-old seafarer Dixit Solanki was killed in an apparent drone-boat strike off Oman’s coast, his family has petitioned the Bombay High Court for the urgent return of his body. The plea, which criticizes authorities and the ship’s management for a lack of transparency, is listed for hearing on April 6.
Solanki died on March 4 when an explosive-laden drone boat hit the oil tanker MT MKD Vyom amid the ongoing West Asia hostilities. He is reported to be the first Indian to be killed in such an attack in the area. The petition was lodged by his father, Amratlal Solanki, and his sister, Mitali Solanki, through advocates S B Talekar and Madhvi Ayyappan.
They have asked the Union government to expedite the repatriation of his remains, alleging that there has been an opaque and unsatisfactory recovery process. In addition to seeking return of the body, the family has requested disclosure of all investigative and forensic records connected to the incident.
The respondents named include:
- The Ministry of External Affairs
- The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- The Directorate General of Shipping
- V Ships India Pvt Ltd (managers of MT MKD Vyom)
The petition argues that the constitutional right to dignity survives death and that the government and concerned agencies have both a legal and moral obligation to ensure the deceased is promptly returned to his family.
It also invokes international maritime rules and guidelines that require proper handling and repatriation of seafarers who die at sea.
Nearly 30 days after the attack, the family says they are still without clear information. The petition states that despite sending multiple emails to the vessel’s management, the Solankis received only sparse communication; the sole response from the company reportedly said, “efforts are underway” to recover and return the remains, without providing concrete timelines or status updates.
A bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar will hear the matter this Saturday.