Ghaziabad Family Waits Anxiously for Son Held in Iranian Custody
A family in Ghaziabad's DLF Colony is living through a nightmare. They have received no official word about their son for over a month. Ketan Mehta, a 27-year-old merchant navy engineer, is believed to be in Iranian custody.
The Seizure at Sea
Ketan served as a third engineer on the tanker M T Valiant Roar. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized this vessel on December 8. The IRGC intercepted the ship in international waters near the UAE port of Dibba.
Authorities alleged the tanker carried 6,000 tonnes of smuggled fuel. Ketan's family learned about the seizure on December 9. They have heard nothing directly from the government since that day.
A Father's Agonizing Wait
Mukesh Mehta now clings to his mobile phone. He desperately hopes for a call about his only son. The family last spoke to Ketan on November 31, just before he set sail.
"He told us he would be back in two or three days. He always called before leaving and after returning," Mukesh Mehta said.
On December 9, a man identifying as Captain Vinod Parmar called the family. He is the brother of the ship's captain. This caller informed them that Ketan had been arrested with other officers.
"We were shattered. So far, we haven't heard anything directly about our son," Mukesh stated.
Limited Information and Growing Fear
The family believes the tanker was transporting diesel between Iran and Dubai. Mukesh Mehta suggested the waters are under heavy surveillance due to oil transport restrictions.
They think some crew members have been released. However, around ten people, including Ketan, likely remain detained. The family has no details about his safety, location, or living conditions.
Ketan worked through Elysian Wave Marine Private Limited, a Navi Mumbai-based provider. He renewed his passport and left India on June 29. His six-month contract was set to end on December 31.
"Every six months, he would come back home," his father recalled.
Family in Distress Seeks High-Level Help
The stress has severely impacted Ketan's mother, Rajni Mehta. She suffers from a heart condition and has been admitted to hospital.
"She has been crying constantly. We try to hold ourselves together somehow, but she can't," Mukesh explained.
The family originally hails from Rajkot. Mukesh works as an accountant for a private trust. Ketan is their only son; they have two married daughters.
They have written to the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's office.
"For the past month, we have knocked on every door we could," Mukesh Mehta said.
Direct Appeal to the Prime Minister
The family has made a direct appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They seek his diplomatic intervention to secure Ketan's return.
"The matter is grave. Our son is innocent and was just doing his job. We beg the Prime Minister to use his diplomatic influence to bring our son back home before it's too late," Mukesh Mehta pleaded.
The Ghaziabad family continues their painful vigil. They wait for any news about their son, hoping for a resolution through India's diplomatic channels.
