Seven months after a Kuwaiti boat was seized upon reaching Mumbai undetected, the vessel has been handed over to its owner following the completion of legal formalities. The boat was apprehended on February 6, 2024, when three men from Tamil Nadu sailed from Kuwait to Mumbai, raising serious concerns about maritime security.

The three individuals, employed in Kuwait, embarked on a 10-day journey from the Gulf state to Mumbai, navigating with a GPS device. Upon their arrival, the boat was spotted near Sassoon Dock in South Mumbai, prompting immediate action by local police. The trio was arrested for illegal entry into India, and the boat was confiscated as part of the investigation.

The incident triggered alarms among Indian security agencies, recalling concerns from the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which had also involved seaborne intrusions.

On Thursday, after months of legal processes, the boat was officially returned to its owner, Abdullah Sharahit, who traveled to Mumbai with two lawyers to finalize the handover at Colaba Police Station.

The boat's release marks the end of a complex investigation that had prompted widespread concerns over India's maritime security measures.