Bhubaneswar, Feb 17: The family of missing Odia Merchant Navy officer Sarthak Mohapatra returned home disappointed after finding no trace of him during an inspection of his vessel in Singapore, his uncle said on Tuesday.

“We went there with hope. We thought we would at least get some clarity. But we came back more disturbed,” said Santosh Kumar Sahu, Sarthak’s uncle. “Nothing was shown to us properly. We were not allowed to search freely. It feels like something is being hidden.”

Following the family’s complaint, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has agreed to initiate an investigation into the 23-year-old cadet’s disappearance. Authorities said the Singapore Police Force may join the probe if necessary.

Read more: Mystery Deepens in Sarthak Mohapatra's Case as Family Denied Full access to Ship

‘We Were Not Allowed to Search’

Sarthak’s mother, Rashmita Mohapatra, and Sahu travelled to Singapore on February 16 after he went missing on February 3 while on duty aboard the merchant vessel EA Jersey, operated by Anglo-Eastern Shipping Company.

They were accompanied by two senior officials from India’s Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping).

Although the family was permitted to board the vessel, Sahu alleged that access was severely restricted.

“They only showed us his cabin. We repeatedly requested to check other parts of the ship, but they did not allow it,” he said. “If a boy is missing from a ship, shouldn’t every corner be searched properly?”

Sahu said, "They kept us waiting there for a considerable amount of time. Later in the evening, we went to the ship at around 6:30pm and attempted to speak with the concerned officials. However, the HR Manager, Ian Dubesh, along with Shantanu, repeatedly prevented us from doing so."

Sahu claimed they were surrounded by 10 to 15 ship personnel when they insisted on a wider search.

“We were made to feel uncomfortable. We were told to leave the ship within two hours of boarding it. Even though we had permission to stay till midnight, they rushed us and asked us to leave nearly three hours early,” he said.

Allegations of Withheld Documents

The uncle also alleged that key documents and belongings of Sarthak were not handled transparently.

“They did not show us the logbook properly. His passport was not handed over. We were told the captain had taken it,” Sahu said. “Why should his passport not be given to his family?”

He further alleged that the company attempted to make them sign a document.

“They brought some papers and wanted us to sign. It looked like an agreement that would prevent us from taking legal action later. We refused,” he said. “We will not sign anything until we know the truth.”

Sarthak’s personal belongings were handed over through a third-party agent rather than directly by ship officials, he added.

Crew Statements Under Scrutiny

During the visit, DG Shipping officials questioned several crew members. According to Sahu, there were inconsistencies in some of their responses.

“The statements did not match. One person said something, another said something else,” he said. “If everything is clear, why are there contradictions?”

The vessel later departed for China.

High Commission Intervention

After raising their concerns with the Indian High Commission in Singapore, the family was informed that the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore would conduct an inquiry.

“They assured us that an investigation will be done and the truth will come out,” Sahu said. “But as a family, we are shattered. Every day without information is unbearable.”

Also Read: Probe Deepens as Week-Old Baby Found Outside POCSO Accused’s House in Odisha's Jajpur

Background

Sarthak Mohapatra, a native of Odisha, went missing under unexplained circumstances on February 3.
More than 13 days later, there is still no confirmed information about his whereabouts.

“We just want to know what happened to our child,” Sahu said. “Whether he is alive or not, we deserve the truth.”