Sixteen Indian Ship Crew Held in Iran Families Seek PM Modi’s Help

Iran, Jan 16 : After 16 Indian crew members of the vessel MT Valiant Roar were detained by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the family of Third Engineer Ketan Mehta has made an emotional appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent intervention for his safe return.

The oil tanker was intercepted by the IRGC on December 8, 2025, in international waters near the Dibba Port off the UAE coast. Iranian authorities have accused the vessel of smuggling nearly 6,000 metric tonnes of fuel, following which the crew was taken into custody.

Ketan Mehta’s father, Mukesh Mehta, said the family last spoke to their son on December 31, 2025, when he called briefly on New Year’s Eve to assure them that he was safe. Since Ketan had lost his phone, he had been communicating through a fellow crew member, identified as oiler Pothi Diwakar.

Mukesh Mehta said that when the family recently managed to contact Diwakar, they were informed that the IRGC had formally arrested at least 10 crew members, including Ketan. The lack of communication since then has heightened the family’s anxiety.

The Mehtas said they immediately reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy after learning about the detention. “The MEA asked for my son’s passport details, which we shared without delay. But after that, there has been no update, no clarity, and no reassurance,” Mukesh Mehta said.

Ketan’s mother, Rajni Mehta, is deeply distressed, having not spoken to her son for more than two weeks. The family fears for his safety and well-being in an Iranian detention facility.

Making a direct appeal to Prime Minister Modi, the family urged him to intervene at the highest diplomatic level. “Our son is innocent and was only performing his duty. We request the Prime Minister to use his influence to bring him back home before it’s too late,” Mukesh Mehta said.