Italian ambassador can't leave India, orders Supreme Court

14 March, 2013

Acting tough on Italy over the marines' issue, the Supreme Court of India has issued notice to the Italian ambassador based on the Attorney General's response. The apex court has ordered that the ambassador cannot leave India without its permission.

Notably, it was the Supreme Court that had allowed the two Italian marines accused of killing two fishermen of Kerala in the Indian sea to go back to their country for casting their votes. The apex court did so only after the ambassador Daniele Mancini filed the undertaking that the marines will return by 22 March.

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Should India have let the Italian marines go home?

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The court has given the orders on a plea filed by Janta Party chief Subramaniam Swamy in which he sought action against the ambassador for contempt of court. After the court's decision, Swamy said that the order sends a strong message because the confidence of the people was shaken after Italy insulted India by declining to send the marines back.

The apex court has sought an explanation from the ambassador Mancini on Italian government's decision of going back on its assurance to send back the marines to face trial in India. However, the court gave relaxation to him from appearing in the court.

The Italian ambassador has to respond to the notice by March 18. The next date of hearing in the case against the Italian ambassador is March 19.

Meanwhile, the main opposition party BJP has demanded that the two marines should be declared absconders. BJP president Rajnath Singh added with the help of Interpol both the marines should be brought back. The opposition party's chief also sought tough action against the Italian ambassador.

On this issue, both the ruling as well as the opposition parties seems to be moving on the same track. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said in the parliament yesterday that if the marines were not sent back, there could serious consequences on the relationship of the two friendly countries.

Congress leader and chief minister of Kerala Oomen Chandy had also made it clear that it was central government's responsibility to bring back the marines so that they could be tried in Indian courts.