Indian media reports of arrests and a management shakeup at the Indian subsidiary of Anglo-Eastern Ship Management are false and the result of a prolonged social media campaign, say sources close to the Hong Kong-based ship manager.
Claims of foul play by surviving relatives of deceased maritime officers have brewed on Indian social media accounts for years, including accusations of a cover-up involving forgery, conspiracy, and intimidation.
But they surfaced this week in Indian media with a report by maritime publication Sea and Coast alleging the arrest of Indian subsidiary managing director Maneesh Pradhan.
According to a source close to Anglo-Eastern, officials there have reviewed claims on social media, including video footage of a purported arrest of Pradhan, plus reports by Indian maritime publication Sea and Coast, and other social media discussions.
Anglo-Eastern, the world’s largest ship manager, calls it fake news.
“No arrests have been made,” said an Anglo-Eastern official who declined to be named.
YouTube video footage purporting to show an arrest of one or more company officials at a company event does not contain the people named, said the source, who also denied that there has been any management change, other than the amicable departure of Pradhan, whose resignation dates back months and who is now serving out a gardening leave.
The source added that both Vinay Singh and Rajeev Kumar remain in their positions with Anglo-Eastern in India.
The departure of Pradhan has nothing to do with any arrests or legal action, the source told TradeWinds, and added that he had just hosted “a highly successful conference in Mumbai for Anglo-Eastern clients, seafarers, and staff”.
Pradhan himself could not be reached for comment. The switchboard of the Mumbai office of Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (India) Pvt Ltd confirmed that Pradhan has left his position.
Pradhan’s LinkedIn biography describes his current position as “was managing director”. Published reports indicate that he was tapped in January to take up a new position as chairman of India’s Maritime Association of Shipowners, Shipmanagers, and Agents (Massa).
Deaths at sea
Survivors of the late Sanjay Chaudhary and Shivam Malik have bitterly rejected company accounts of how the two officers died.
Chaudhary, chief engineer of the International Seaways-owned 50,000-dwt product tanker Atlantic Olive (built 2008), was reported to have died on 17 April 2018 as a victim of heart failure. Malik, third officer of the 40,100-dwt Shandong Zihe (built 2004), died on 1 Oct 2021, reportedly a victim of suicide.
Surviving relatives of both men have pressed to have their deaths prosecuted as crimes. In a series of mixed-language videos accompanied by summaries in English, the widow of chief engineer Chaudhary has alleged that her husband was killed for fear that he would expose illegal practices by his employer.
According to a Twitter post by Sea and Coast, Pradhan and Singh “were accused and booked” on a variety of serious charges connected to the two deaths. The 40-second video purporting to record this encounter shows one of a group of men in business suits in a hotel lobby signing papers for a uniformed officer.
TradeWinds has approached Sea and Coast editor-in-chief Amit Kumar, who told TradeWinds he will provide further information on the claims after supporting documents have been translated from Hindi.
