The other two officers were Admiral SM Nanda, then chief of the Indian Navy, and Captain M. K. Roy, then director of India's Naval Intelligence.

[4] Captain Samant led an attack involving three gunboats on Pakistani ships on the Pussur River during the period between 7–10 December 1971.

[3] Samant subsequently became the first temporary Chief of Naval Staff of the newly created Bangladesh Navy and was awarded the 'Friend of Liberation war' honour.

The citation for the Maha Vir Chakra reads as follows:[1][2][8] Gazette Notification: 18 Pres/72,12-2-72 Operation: 1971 Cactus Lily Date of Award: 1971

Commander Mohan Narayan Rao Samant was the Senior Officer of a Force consisting of Craft, which carried out the most daring and highly successful attacks on the enemy in Mongla and Khulna Ports.

In utter disregard for his personal safety, the officer not only managed to pick up a large number of the survivors but persisted with fierce attacks on the enemy with devastating results.

By his personal example and high qualities of leadership, Commander Samant inspired his men to rise to the occasion and fight most gallantly.

Samant has co-authored the book Operation X: The Untold Story of India's Covert Naval War in East Pakistan with Sandeep Unnithan.