Reports have claimed that former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb boarded the tugboat to India under false pretenses, where he had claimed that he was traveling to India for medical purposes.

Indian authorities had arrested Adeeb, after he eached India via sea route and was questioned by central agencies off the coast of Tamil Nadu.

Officials intercepted the barge mid-sea after a tip-off, and Ahmed Adeeb was held on board and not permitted to step foot in India. According to investigators, Adeeb was secured while on board a barge named Virgo 9, which had returned to Tuticorin with a crew of nine in addition to Adeeb. Adeeb had boarded the boat by saying that he was traveling to the India for medical purposes.

Times of India reported, citing a senior police office that the Indian crew members onboard had reported of Adeeb's presence to the agent of the tugboat. The agent had then alerted officials from the customs, coast guard and intelligence agencies - who had then prevented Adeeb's entry into the country and proceeded to investigate the matter further.

The tugboat was anchored a few nautical miles off the Tuticorin port.