Chennai 6 / MV Seaman Guard Ohio

I understand your serious concerns about the ongoing situation. Foreign Office Ministers have raised this case at the highest levels over 30 times since November 2013. On 11 January 2016, the men were sentenced to five years' imprisonment and Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire raised the case with the new Indian High Commissioner the following day, seeking clarification on a number of fronts. At the end of May, he also visited the men in prison and again raised their case with the Indian authorities.
 
While the Government cannot interfere in the Indian legal process, the UK will continue to offer consular support to all the men and their families and urge that their appeal application be dealt with swiftly.