CBI Files Affidavit In High Court On ‘Black Rose’ Sinking; Know What It Says On Odisha Govt’s Response To Probe Demand

Cuttack: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday submitted an affidavit before the Orissa High Court in connection with the sensational ‘MV Black Rose’ cargo ship sinking case.

As per information, the central investigating agency stated in its affidavit that following the recommendations of the Shipping Ministry, it had twice sought permission from the Odisha government to probe the case.

While the first permission was sought through a letter in November, 2019 and the CBI had sent a reminder after two months after the state government failed to respond to its request, it said.

Though request was made by the agency twice, the state government was yet to grant the CBI permission to probe the sinking of Mongolian cargo ship Black Rose off the coast of Paradip which might have international ramifications.

Sources said, the state Advocate General had initially objected to the filing of affidavit by the CBI. But the agency anyways submitted the same informing the court about the state government’s reluctance to provide permission to investigate the case.

Notably, the matter came to the HC as a petition was filed by an RTI activist seeking CBI probe into the Black Rose sinking case.

On September 9, 2009, Mongolian vessel ‘MV Black Rose’ carrying a cargo of 23,847 metric tonnes of iron ore and 920 metric tonnes of furnace oil sank five kilometres off Paradip coast in Odisha under mysterious circumstances when it was on a chartered voyage to China.

Out of the 27 crew members present on board the cargo ship, 26 were rescued while the chief engineer of the vessel lost his life. Several opposition political parties had then alleged that the vessel was engaged in the illegal transportation of iron-ore and other minerals by forging documents. They also alleged that ‘Black Rose’ was used to bring iron ore for sponge (iron) plants belonging to some BJD leaders by forging documents.

Next hearing in the case is slated to be held by the HC after two weeks, sources said.