Ex-Maldives Vice President on boat questioned by Indian officials

Chennai (1 Min READ):  Former Vice President of Maldives Ahmed Adeeb who was on board a cargo tugboat off Tuticorin coast in Tamil Nadu is being questioned by Coast Guard and immigration officials, said a police official on Thursday.

އަހުމަދު އަދީބު ހައްޔަރުކޮށްފައިވަނީ އިތުރު 9 މީހުންނާއެކީކަމަށް އިންޑިއާގެ ނޫސްތަކުން ބުނޭ. pic.twitter.com/YmSjRaDZRK

— PSM News (@psmnewsmv) August 1, 2019

“The cargo tugboat Virgo 9 had gone to Maldives from Tuticorin port earlier. On its return trip Adeeb seems to have boarded the ship. The officials of Coast Guard and immigration department are questioning him. The ship is yet to come to the port,” the police official told IANS over phone.

Raveesh Kumar, MEA on reports of arrest of Former Vice President of Maldives Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor in India: We are trying to ascertain the veracity of the reports. We will contact their government and find out if these reports are true. pic.twitter.com/zGLTEzZG3S

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2019

On getting information of an additional member onboard from the shipping agent in India, Indian officials boarded the cargo vessel and are questioning Adeeb.

The officials are trying to gather how Adeeb got into the vessel and other details.

Tuticorin Port (Tamil Nadu) Authority say they have detained the former vice-president of Maldives, Ahmed Adeeb. MEA says, 'they are trying to ascertain the veracity of the reports.' pic.twitter.com/9W4QDahnnR

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2019

The cargo vessel Virgo 9 is registered in Singapore with a gross tonnage of 181 tonnes.

Adeeb was the Vice President of Maldives in 2015. Later that year, he was removed as Vice President by a no-confidence vote.

Published on: Aug 1, 2019 at 19:00 IST

IANS