Mumbai: Capt. Sunil James who was in jail in Togo was released yesterday after India persuaded the authorities in Togo to release him on compassionate grounds for performing the last rites of his 11-month-old son who died on December 2.

James family had mounted pressure on Indian authorities for his release over the past few weeks and his wife Aditi had even met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to request him to plead his case with the authorities in the west African nation.

Addressing the media at the airport he said, “What has happened in the last five months is past and gone. I have come here as I have some work left as a father, I have some duties as a father, so I would appreciate if you would please respect that.”

“Justice has prevailed just because of the good intervention of the Prime Minister’s office and honourable President of Togo”, he added.

He thanked the Prime Minister, his office, Indian High Commissioner in Accra and Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam for securing his freedom.

James 11-month-old son Vivaan died from septicemia following intestinal gangrene on December 2 when he was still incarcerated. His family had kept the toddler’s body in a morgue and waited patiently for the distraught father’s return for his funeral so he could see his only child one last time.

James was arrested along with two other crew members, as he had stopped at Togo to report an attack on his ship MT Ocean Centurion by pirates on July 31, for allegedly aiding the pirates.