Maldives Third-Way Democrats (MTD), on Saturday, expressed concern over the Indian government's decision to reject former vice president Adeeb's request for political asylum and hand him over to Maldivian authorities.
Adeeb, the current MTD president, fled Maldives on July 27 aboard a Mongolian registered tugboat named Virgo 9, posing as a crewmember.
Indian authorities intercepted the former vice president on Thursday near the coast of Tuticorin Port, Thoothukudi. Adeeb was denied entrance to India due to lack of valid documentation and remained aboard the vessel until he was turned over to the Maldives Coast Guard on Saturday.
MTD vice president Yameen Rasheed asserted the seriousness of the concerns raised by Adeeb's legal team and that he had a right to attain protection.
Adeeb's international legal team had requested asylum, citing fears of politically motivated charges and past instances of being coerced to issue false statements.
Yameen stated that bilateral ties between two nations should not be factored above evidence presented by lawyers in matters concerning the provision of political asylum.
Despite stating that Adeeb's motivations were unknown, Yameen guaranteed that MTD would do all it could, within legal limits, to protect the former vice president's rights.
Although all the charges against ex-VP Adeeb were dropped, clearing him from serving a jail sentence of 33 years, the state appealed one case regarding the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) fraud at the Supreme Court. The apex court had imposed a travel ban on Adeeb until the conclusion of the aforementioned case.
Circulating rumours allege that Adeeb's real intentions were to switch vessels, make way to Sri Lanka and travel to a European country from that point.