Sunil James, the Merchant Navy Captain who was recently released from a jail in Togo, where he had been kept in custody for the past five months, said Friday that he felt helpless when he heard the news of his son's demise.
"I felt very helpless when I got the news of my son's demise, as any father in my situation would," said James.
"Whatever has happened is past; I don't want to reflect on that. I would like to look at the future and take care of my family so that our lives are back on track," he said.
Responding to the charges that were levelled against him, he said there was no evidence to support it.
"My wife, my family, my friends, the common public and the media have really fought and shown that there are victories for the common man," he said.
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"I would like to thank the President of Togo and the Prime Minister of our country for their support as well," he added.
James was released from a jail in Togo where he was kept in custody since July.
Another sailor who had been imprisoned along with Captain James, Vijayan, has been released too.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin had tweeted: "After meet between India's High Commissioner in Accra and President Gnassingbe of Togo, Captain Sunil James and Vijayan released. Now with High Commissioner K Jeeva Sagar."
"We hope that Capt. Sunil James will be reunited with his family latest by tomorrow morning," he said.
James' family had been seeking his release so that he could return home for the last rites of his 11-month-old son Vivaan who died on December 2 after developing gangrene in his intestine while undergoing treatment at Andheri's Holy Spirit Hospital in Mumbai. His body has been kept in the hospital morgue's cold storage.
James had stopped at Togo to report an attack on his ship MT Ocean Centurion by pirates when he was arrested July 31, along with two other crew members, on suspension of aiding the pirates.
