India, Feb. 20 -- The Yellow Gate police have registered a first information report (FIR) against Jugwinder Singh Brar, a Dubai-based Indian national and owner of three 'Iran-linked' ships seized by the Indian Coast Guard (IGC) on February 6.

Brar has been booked along with eight staff members of the three ships which police suspect were involved in smuggling Iranian oil and other illegal activities.

Speaking to reporters in Dubai, Brar said his vessels were merely providing essential supplies to other ships in distress far from the Indian coast.

"The ships were not engaged in any illicit activity," Singh said, and threatened to file a defamation suit against Indian authorities for seizing his "innocent ships".

The three vessels - Ste...