Ailing Italian Marine might be allowed to return

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Monday held out hope of Italian Marine Massimilano Latorre being allowed to return to his country for two months following a mild brain stroke he suffered recently.

Answering a query at her first press conference, Swaraj said the government is "not opposed" to Latorre being sent back on "humanitarian grounds". However, she said the resolution of the case rests on the judicial process.

Her response came as the Supreme Court Monday asked the government to respond to Latorre's plea seeking to go back to his country for two months for treatment.

Asking the central government to respond, the bench of Chief Justice R.M. Lodha, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman set Sep 12 as the next date of hearing.

The court also relaxed its order asking the Italian Marines - Latorre and Salvatore Girone - to report to the Chanakyapuri police station once a week.

It said Lattore was exempted from reporting to the police station for two weeks.

The exemption came into force retrospectively from Aug 31.

Counsel K.T.S. Tulsi, appearing for Lattore, told the court that he (Lattore) was in depression and was admitted to the Ganga Ram Hospital in August-end and was discharged only Sunday. He said Lattore wanted to go home to be with his family and children.

The court was told that the Italian ambassador was willing to give any guarantee for Lattore's return upon the expiry of two months.

Senior counsel Soli Sorabjee also appeared in the matter.

The two Marines have been held in India since February 2012 when they allegedly shot dead two Indian fishermen off Kerala, mistaking them for pirates.