India brought 35 accused Somali pirates to Mumbai on Saturday, days after they were apprehended when naval commandos recaptured a hijacked bulk carrier and rescued several hostages.
The December hijacking of the Maltese-flagged MV Ruen was the first time since 2017 that any cargo vessel had been successfully boarded by Somali pirates.
Indian commandos boarded and took control of the vessel on March 17 some 260 nautical miles (480 kilometres) off the coast of Somalia.
The destroyer INS Kolkata, which led the rescue operation, arrived in Mumbai early on Saturday carrying all 35 men accused of the hijacking.
A navy statement said the operation "upheld the principles of international law and commitment to ensuring safe seas and maritime security in the region".
An AFP journalist at the scene saw each of the detained men handcuffed to a police officer and taken into police vans.
All appeared to be in good spirits although some showed signs of slight injury including visible bandages.
The group was expected to be brought before a magistrate later on Saturday.
In the process they freed the MV Ruen's 17 crew members -- nine from Myanmar, seven from Bulgaria and one from Angola -- none of whom were injured in the rescue.
Bulgarian vessel owner Navibulgar called India's rescue a "major success".