On the heels of the arrival in Mumbai of what are believed to be the remains of Dixit Solanki, a seafarer who perished aboard a ship involved in the West Asia conflict, the Bombay High Court on Monday requested input from relevant authorities regarding the family’s request for DNA analysis. This comes as the Directorate General of Shipping took swift action to expedite the forensic examination process.
In a recent development, Shyam Jagannathan, the head of the DG Shipping, reached out to Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti and Maharashtra DGP Sadanand Date, urging prompt action to facilitate the DNA testing of the remains through forensic experts.
His correspondence emphasized the urgent nature of the situation, highlighting the delicate state of the remains and the emotional turmoil experienced by the family. “Timely support from the State Police is essential, given the sensitive circumstances surrounding this case,” he stated in his letter.
The remains, identified as a small quantity of charred bones retrieved from a vessel that suffered an explosion, are currently stored in a mortuary in Byculla. Authorities are collaborating with various agencies, including the Ministry of External Affairs, to ensure the remains are treated with dignity and prepared for repatriation.
A division bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad has directed the Centre, DG Shipping, and other relevant parties to respond to the family’s petition, with the case scheduled for further consideration on Tuesday.
Advocate Pradnya Talekar, representing the family, pointed out discrepancies in the information relayed by the ship’s captain. “Initially, we were informed he was injured, then that he was missing, and finally that he had died. There is no feasible method to identify the remains physically,” she argued in court, advocating for prompt DNA testing before the remains are released to the family.
The family has expressed significant apprehension regarding the identification of the remains, noting that only a handful of charred bones were recovered from the ship.
Given the lack of a recognizable body, the petition asserts that DNA testing is the sole dependable means of confirming identity, especially in cases involving fire-related fatalities.
The situation has been complicated by procedural challenges. The Indian Consulate in Dubai informed the family that it was unable to conduct DNA sampling and suggested they initiate the process in India.
However, when the family sought to file a First Information Report (FIR) at a local police station in Kandivali, they were told that the incident took place in international waters, leaving them without a clear path to proceed.
The petition indicates that despite numerous attempts to resolve the issue, no systems were put in place to facilitate the testing, compelling the family to seek intervention from the High Court. Jagannathan’s letter acknowledged the “significant procedural and legal complexities” involved, noting that the death occurred in international waters and that delays arose because UAE authorities had not registered the case nor issued a death certificate.
Eventually, the flag state administration issued the death certificate following diplomatic efforts, allowing for the repatriation of the remains to India on April 5.
