The Orissa High Court initially ordered the arrest of the MV Propel Fortune vessel due to a monetary dispute raised by ship chandler MH Bland SL. The dispute involved non-payment for a variety of supplies and services provided to the vessel at Paradip Port. However, the court later decided to release the Singaporean cargo ship on the condition that a bank draft of Rs 15.56 lakh be submitted.
The vacation judge, M S Raman, had initially ordered the arrest of the cargo ship to prevent it from leaving Paradip Port. But after considering the arguments presented by MV Propel Fortune’s counsel, Justice Raman agreed to release the vessel upon receipt of the required bank draft. The defendant was instructed to provide the demand draft in favor of the Registrar (Judicial) of the High Court of Orissa in Cuttack for the specified amount.
Following the submission of the bank draft, MV Propel Fortune would be allowed to sail out of Paradip Port without further delay. The vacation judge scheduled the matter to be heard in the week starting January 6 before the appropriate jurisdictional court. This decision marked a resolution to the dispute between the ship chandler and the cargo ship, allowing for the release of MV Propel Fortune.