Mumbai: The father and sister of Dixit Solanki (33), the mariner killed in a suspected missile or drone attack in the Gulf, has moved the Bombay High Court, seeking official DNA verification of the mortal remains handed over to them.
The matter is likely to come up for hearing today.
Solanki was a sailor on the oil tanker MT MKD Vyom that was struck in the Gulf of Oman on March 1. His mortal remains were sent back to Mumbai on April 5.
Amratlal Solanki and Mitali Solanki moved the court through advocate Satish B Talekar, raising serious concerns over the identification of the remains. They have sought written confirmation of post-mortem findings and DNA authentication.
Solanki, a Kandivali resident, worked as an oiler in the engine room. He died after an explosion and fire tore through the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker. The vessel, which had departed Europe on February 8 and was bound for Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia, was struck near the Muscat coast in the Gulf of Oman, a region witnessing heightened maritime tensions linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict, as reported by Hindustan Times.
India’s Directorate General of Shipping described his death as being caused by “fatal injuries as a result of an exploding projectile”. Reports indicate that the attack, suspected to involve a missile or explosive-laden drone boat, created a breach in the vessel, triggering the blast in the engine room where Solanki was stationed.
He was declared dead by the ship’s master, becoming the first reported Indian casualty in the recent escalation of maritime hostilities in the region. The remaining crew, including other Indians, were rescued safely.
However, the circumstances surrounding the repatriation of his remains have led to distress and uncertainty for the family.
The family was informed that the body had been completely charred,, Talekar told the court.
“It is very difficult to even ascertain, if the remains are that of a man or a woman,” he said, adding that only fragments of skeletal remains had been returned.
The family stated in the petition that no documentation, confirming post-mortem procedures or DNA identification, was provided to them. Given the absence of any physical means to identify the remains, they have sought a court directive for DNA testing before performing the last rites.
The Consulate General of India in Dubai informed them that it lacked the facilities and expertise to collect and preserve DNA samples, and that without support from local authorities, it could not undertake the process. The Consulate advised the family to conduct DNA testing in India after the remains were repatriated.
The family then approached the Kandivali police for assistance but were allegedly told that the authorities were unable to facilitate the DNA testing, prompting the fresh plea before the High Court.
The bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Akhand posted the matter for further hearing on Tuesday.
