A week after the crew members of MSC Elsa 3, a ship that sank off the Alappuzha coast in May 2025 approached the Kerala High Court seeking permission to return to their home countries, the court orally observed that their liberty cannot be affected due to the non-completion of the inquiry into the incident.The captain and other crew members had cited that their detention was illegal, and that the authorities concerned insisted on their presence in the State for investigation, even after mails were sent seeking permission to return to their home countries. Moreover, their passports had been seized by the authorities.The court said their liberty cannot be affected, merely because they are foreign nationals. There are guidelines pertaining to fair treatment of seafarers in case of maritime accidents, the court said.The matter would be heard next on June 8, 2026. Published - June 01, 2026 09:33 pm IST