The captain of cargo ship MSC Chitra, which collided with Khalijia 3 off the Mumbai coast last week causing a major oil spill, today blamed the other freighter for the disaster while seeking anticipatory bail from a sessions court which asked police not to arrest him till August 18.
Principal Judge M L Tahaliyani, hearing Minguelinho Ranjit Martin's plea, allowed prosecution to file its reply by August 18 and asked the police not to arrest him till then.
The order on Captain's anticipatory bail will be passed after hearing both the sides on August 18.In his anticipatory bail petition, 38-year-old Martin alleged that the collision between the two cargo ships occurred due to the fault and negligence of the Master of Khalijia 3.
He further alleged that Khalijia 3, which was grounded off Mumbai on July 19 following flooding of the ship, was "unseaworthy" and brought to Mumbai Port in an "unsafe condition".
Apprehending arrest after a case was registered by Yellow Gate police station on a complaint filed by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Martin moved the court for bail.
The captain and crew of the two vessels were booked under various sections of the IPC and Environment Protection Act including section 280 (Rash navigation of vessel), 336 (endangering life of others) and 427 (mischief causing damage).
