Marines row: Travel ban on Italian envoy goes

With the Italian marines accused of killing two Kerala fishermen back in India, the Supreme Court Tuesday lifted its March 14 order restraining Italy’s ambassador from leaving the country. The story so far

With the Italian marines accused of killing two Kerala fishermen back in India, the Supreme Court Tuesday lifted its March 14 order restraining Italy’s ambassador from leaving the country.

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It also directed the Centre to immediately set up a special court to hold proceedings against Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone, who allegedly killed the two fishermen off Kerala coast ona February 15 last year.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir vacated the order that had banned Daniele Mancini from leaving India after Rome said it would not send the marines back after a home visit, setting off a diplomatic row.

The court had on February 22 allowed the marines to go home to vote in Italian elections.
On March 18, the court expressed anguish over the ambassador “reneging” on his undertaking to the court on the marines’ return and said he did not enjoy diplomatic immunity.

The Italian government, however, changed its mind and sent the men back on March 22, the day their four-week leave ended.