Mumbai court sentences 44 Somali pirates to life under Maritime Anti-Piracy Act

Mumbai: The lawyer assisting the 44 pirates, who were on Monday handed life imprisonment for hijacking two internationalflagged vessels in 2024, submitted that the accused had been advised by the Somalian embassy not to plead guilty. However, the pirates told the court they had no faith in the lawyer assisting them on behalf of the embassy and would continue to plead guilty.Uddhav Thackeray's Sena UBT Moves Supreme Court Following Approval Of 6 Rebel MPs Into Eknath Shinde's Fold The 44 pirates were apprehended by the Indian Navy in two separate operations in March 2024 for hijacking MV Ex-Ruen and FV Al-Kambar 786. The Navy rescued 17 crew members from one vessel and 23 from the other.The case had been underway since their arrest. Earlier this month, the accused wrote to the court pleading guilty to all charges, citing severe hardship in prison owing to differences in language, culture, diet and lifestyle, besides the lack of family or friends to help or guide them. The court gave them time to reconsider their plea.Special public prosecutor Ranjeet Sangle said the ruling was a landmark judgment. He claimed it is the first under the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022. On execution of the sentence, Sangle said it was the judiciary’s job to follow legal provisions and deliver judgment according to law, while the State had the prerogative to decide how to execute the sentence.Baba Siddique Murder Case: Special MCOCA Court Issues Production Warrant Against Anmol Bishnoi After Pulling Up Mumbai Police Sangle said it was entirely the prerogative of the Government of India to deport the convicts to Somalia under the bilateral Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the two nations and international law.On Monday, Sangle submitted that all the accused understood the charges and their consequences and were voluntarily and unconditionally pleading guilty.The court thereafter held all the accused guilty, observing: “This court has already given ample opportunity to think over the issue of pleading guilty, and the accused have given thoughtful consideration and are now voluntarily and clearly pleading guilty. Hence, their plea is accepted.”To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/ 

Mumbai, July 20, 2026: The sessions court on Monday convicted 44 Somalian pirates caught by the Indian Navy in 2024 and sentenced them to life imprisonment for offences under the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, calling their actions an act of terrorism. This is said to be the first conviction under the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022.The pirates had last week pleaded guilty, contending that they had been facing severe hardship in prison. Additional Sessions Judge S. B. Dige on Monday accepted their plea and held them guilty, observing that, “The act of piracy on the high seas by hijacking the vessel and keeping crew members hostage for ransom, by attempting to kill them and to keep them as human shields, and by not obeying the lawful directions of the Indian Navy, is a very serious matter that amounts to terrorism.”First Conviction Under Anti-Piracy LawSpecial Public Prosecutor Ranjeet Sangle claimed that this is a landmark judgment as it is the first under the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022. On the execution of the sentence, Sangle said that it is the job of the judiciary to follow the legal provisions and deliver the judgment as per the law. However, he said it is the State's prerogative how to execute the sentence awarded to the accused.“It is entirely the prerogative of the Government of India, if it wishes, to deport the convicts to Somalia under the bilateral Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the two nations, under international law,” Sangle said.The group of 44 pirates was caught by the Indian Navy in two separate operations undertaken in March 2024, as they were involved in hijacking two vessels — MV Ex-Ruen and FV Al-Kambar 786. The Navy had apprehended a total of 44 pirates and rescued 17 and 23 crew members, respectively.Court Accepts Guilty PleaThe pirates had earlier this month written a letter to the court pleading guilty to all the charges, claiming that they were facing severe hardship in prison owing to differences in language, culture, diet and lifestyle, as well as the lack of any family or friends to help or guide them. The court had given them time to reconsider their plea before they were convicted.On Monday, when the case was called, prosecutor Sangle contended that all the accused had understood the nature of the charges and their consequences, and that they were voluntarily and unconditionally pleading guilty. Hence, their plea should be accepted. However, the lawyer who assisted the accused on behalf of the Somalian Embassy submitted that the embassy had advised them not to plead guilty. The pirates told the court that they did not have any faith in the lawyer and would continue to plead guilty.Also Watch: Mumbai: Juvenile Justice Board Declares Documents Of Somalian Pirates As Fake, Orders Judicial Custody For Seven SuspectsThe court thereafter held all the accused guilty, observing that, “This court has already given ample opportunity to think over the issue of pleading guilty, and the accused have given thoughtful consideration and are now voluntarily and clearly pleading guilty. Hence, their plea of guilty is accepted.”To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/