Supreme Court lifts order restraining Italian envoy from leaving India

The court vacated its order restraining Italian Ambassador from leaving India, as the two Italian marines have returned to India

The Supreme Court on Tuesday vacated its order restraining Italian Ambassador, Daniele Mancini, from leaving India, as the two Italian marines have returned to India. The two marines are accused of killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast. In an earlier order, the Bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir had allowed the two marines to go to Italy to cast their votes and return within four weeks. However, the Italian government went back on the word given to the court by the ambassador. However, the marines returned on the last day of the four-week period, putting an end to the diplomatic stand-off.

The court had also asked the Central government to set up a special court to conduct the trial in Delhi.

The Chief Justice on Tuesday asked the government to state on an affidavit the steps it had taken to set up the special court. The court had criticised the government for dragging its feet on setting up the special court as ordered by it last month.