Sixteen Indian crew members of the oil tanker MT Valiant Roar have been detained by Iranian authorities, triggering serious concern among their families in India. Following the detention, the family of Third Engineer Ketan Mehta has made a public appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent intervention to ensure the safe return of their son and the other Indian nationals.

According to available information, the vessel MT Valiant Roar was intercepted on December 8, 2025, by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The interception took place in international waters near Dibba Port in the United Arab Emirates. Iranian authorities have accused the ship of being involved in the smuggling of 6,000 metric tonnes of fuel. After the interception, the crew members were taken into custody by the IRGC.

Ketan Mehta, one of the detained crew members, serves as the Third Engineer on board the vessel. His family, based in India, has been anxiously waiting for updates since the incident. Ketan’s father, Mukesh Mehta, shared that the family last heard Ketan’s voice on December 31, 2025. He said that Ketan spoke to his parents on New Year’s Eve and assured them that he was safe at that time.

Since then, communication with Ketan has been extremely limited. Mukesh Mehta explained that Ketan lost his phone and was unable to contact his family directly. Due to this, Ketan managed to send messages through one of his colleagues on the ship. The colleague was identified as an oiler named Pothi Diwakar. Through Diwakar, the family received some information about the situation of the crew members.

Recently, when Mukesh Mehta was able to get in touch with Pothi Diwakar, he was informed that the IRGC had officially arrested 10 crew members, including Ketan Mehta. This information added to the family’s distress, as there has been no direct communication from Ketan after December 31.

The Mehta family has reached out to Indian authorities for help. They contacted the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) as well as the Indian Embassy to seek assistance regarding Ketan’s detention. Mukesh Mehta described the response from the authorities and said, “The MEA asked for his passport details, which we provided immediately. But since then, there has been no update, no clarity, and no reassurance.”

The lack of clear information has left the family deeply worried about Ketan’s well-being and legal status in Iran. They have stated that despite following all instructions given by the authorities and promptly sharing required documents, they have not received any concrete response or timeline for possible action.

With no further updates coming from official channels, the family has now appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They are urging the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter and take steps to secure the release and safe return of the detained Indian crew members.

The case of the MT Valiant Roar and its crew has raised concerns about the safety of Indian seafarers working in international waters, especially in regions with heightened security and strict maritime enforcement. As of now, the families continue to wait for reassurance and action from the authorities, hoping for a resolution that will bring their loved ones back home safely.