Overview

• Modifying its July 7 order, the High Court reduced the deposit sought from ₹9,531 crore to ₹1,227.62 crore to free the detained sister vessel MSC Akiteta II at Vizhinjam.
• The court affirmed that oil leaked from MSC Elsa 3 caused pollution but said the state's pleadings did not substantiate the full environmental damages claimed.
• Within the revised figure, the bench fixed ₹500 crore as security to safeguard environmental interests at this stage.
• MSC has not deposited the earlier amount, and legal experts say the company is likely to challenge the new order even though it can secure release by furnishing the revised security.
• The ruling permits Kerala to seek increased security later or move against other sister vessels, as fishermen pursue compensation and have prompted conditional arrests of 18 ships.