An Argyll pirate-hunter trapped in India faces losing his home – because he has not been paid since his ordeal began.
Billy Irving, 34, was held after his ship was boarded by armed Indian coastguard officials in October last year.
He was accused of gun-running, but was cleared of all charges more than a month ago.
However, he is still being held in Chennai, and now faces losing his home at Connel, near Oban, because of the delay in returning home.
His family have reiterated their calls for Mr Irving to be allowed to come back to Scotland immediately.
His father, Jim Irving, said police in India had not returned the ex-paratrooper’s passport and his employer has not paid him a penny since he was detained.
He said: “The situation has become intolerable. It seems to me the Indian police are intent on ignoring his innocence and keeping him there as long as they possibly can.
“My son is on the verge of losing his house and the savings he’d built up have almost gone. It seems the Foreign Office don’t want to know.”
Officials arrested Mr Irving jun and 34 colleagues aboard the MV Seamen Ohio, claiming they had illegally entered Indian waters.
They were accused of being in unauthorised possession of 31 assault rifles and 5,000 rounds of ammunition.
They were then forced to endure dreadful conditions in the notorious Puzhal prison alongside murderers and rapists.
A fresh court hearing is due to be held today but Mr Irving is sceptical it will lead to an to his son’s ordeal.
As well as Mr Irving, Nick Dunn, from Ashington, Northumberland, Ray Tindall, from Chester, Paul Towers, from Yorkshire, John Armstrong, from Wigton, Cumbria, and Nicholas Simpson, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, are all stuck in India.
Mr Irving sen added: “At the last hearing the judge criticised the police and said there should be no more adjournments in the case. It remains to be seen if it will make any difference.
“The men all feel very let down by the whole situation. The authorities have not given them their passports back or the ‘No Other Charges’ certificates they need to leave. These guys have done nothing wrong. It can’t be allowed to go on.”
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said officials were offering “consular assistance”.
He added: “We are aware of the court decision. We also continue to raise the case at the highest level.”
No one Mr Irving’s employer, US-based AdvanFort, was available to comment yesterday.