Indian merchant navy officer Rikshit Chauhan, detained after a Russian tanker was seized by US forces, faces uncertainty just weeks before his wedding as his family appeals to PM Modi for his safe return.
Himachal Merchant Navy Officer Rikshit Chauhan Detained After US Ship Seizure (Source: X)
Three Indians are among the crew on board the Russian oil tanker seized by the U.S., local media reported even as Moscow on Thursday (January 8, 2026) asked Washington to comply with international laws on freedom of maritime navigation while strongly rejecting its ‘neo-colonist’ tendencies.
Rikshit Chauhan, a 26-year-old merchant navy officer from Palampur in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, was preparing to return home for his wedding next month when the Russian-flagged oil tanker he was serving on was seized by United States forces in the North Atlantic last week.
Chauhan was one of three Indian crew members aboard the vessel called Marinera, previously known as Bella 1. The tanker was intercepted after a long maritime chase that began near the Caribbean Sea and continued into the North Atlantic before US forces took control of it on January 7.
His family has now appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help bring him back safely to India. Chauhan’s family said he was sent to Venezuela for his first sea assignment by the Russian company that employed him. They last heard from him just hours before the tanker was seized. His mother, Reeta Devi, made an emotional appeal to the prime minister, saying, "Please ensure the safe return of my son, Rikshit," she said, urging the government to act so her son could come home safely.
The distraught mother told reporters in Palampur that her son’s marriage is scheduled for February 19, and they are praying that he returns before that date.
"We talked to Rikshit for the last time on January 7 and are praying to God for his safe return before that date," she said.
She also asked both the prime minister and the external affairs minister to secure the release not only of Rikshit but also of the two other Indian crew members from Goa and Kerala who were on the same ship.
Chauhan’s father, Ranjit Singh, said his son joined the merchant navy on August 1, 2025. During their last conversation, Rikshit told his family he was fine but that he did not expect to be able to communicate again soon because the ship was being ordered back due to increased US military activity against Venezuela. The family only learned about the ship’s seizure on January 10.
The tanker Marinera was reportedly headed to Venezuela when it was intercepted at sea. It had a total of 28 crew members onboard, including three Indians, 20 Ukrainians, six Georgians, and two Russians. All crew members remain under US detention, except for the two Russians who were released soon after the seizure.
Back home, local politicians have asked for details about Rikshit’s case. The local legislator (MLA) from Palampur said he will take up the matter with the state chief minister to secure help. The Ministry of External Affairs also said the government is tracking the situation closely and confirming information about the Indian nationals on board the tanker.
