MSC Elsa 3 sinking: Kerala HC permits three crew members to return to home countries

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday allowed the electro technical engineer, the seaman, and the motorman of MSC Elsa 3, the ship that sank off the coast of Alappuzha in Kerala, causing extensive marine and coastal pollution, to return to their home countries.

The crew members had sought permission from the High Court in May 2026 to return to their home countries after being detained following the incident in May 2025. They had submitted that their detention was illegal and that the authorities had insisted on their presence in the State for investigation.

The court granted its permission for the members to travel back, since they have not been arrayed as accused in the case registered before the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Kochi, at Thoppumpady, and their presence was only needed, if at all, as witnesses in the proceedings before the Magistrate or the High Court.

The crew members are allowed to return home on the condition that they execute a simple bond or a bank guarantee with two sureties, and they were directed to appear as and when required by the court, the Magistrate or the investigating officer.

The court had earlier sought a progress report from the Magistrate to determine the reasons for the alleged delay in the investigation, the expected timeline for completing the probe, and, if cognisance of the offence had been taken, the date on which the accused appeared before the Magistrate.