Sushma Swaraj meets family of Indian jailed in Iran for 2 years

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday met the family of a Delhi resident, lodged in a jail in Iran for two years, and assured them that all efforts will be made for securing his release.

Sushil Kapoor, an employee of a Dubai-based shipping firm, was apprehended by Iraninan authorities on-board a ship over charges of smuggling oil in 2013 and has been languishing in a jail ever since.

The family members of Sushil met Swaraj at her residence this evening during which the Minister assured the family of extending all possible help to secure his release.

The minister said two mercy pleas were sent to Iran on February 11 and March 31 for his release but these were not accepted. On July two, another letter has been sent to the Iranian authorities in this regard, she said.

"The Iranian Foreign Minister is visiting India on August 14 and I will raise the issue with him," she told India Today.

On Saturday, Swaraj had tweeted that her office had spoken to the family, that stays at Pashchim Vihar in west Delhi and that she had asked the family members to meet her on Sunday. Sushil, who has reportedly completed his two year jail term in Iran, has been asked to pay a fine of Rs 90 crore for securing his release.

According to reports, the company had secured the release of the ship but did not pay the required amount for the release of the crew members.