Conflicting views between MEA-MHA on Italian marine case

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Apr 03 2013 | 8:50 PM IST
Confusion prevailed today over who will probe the killing of two Kerala fishermen allegedly by two Italian marines and what charges will be slapped against the accused as External Affairs Ministry and Home Ministry expressed conflicting views over it.
While the Home Ministry has been maintaining that the case has been handed over to NIA following the Supreme Court's ruling that Kerala government has no jurisdiction to prosecute the marines, the External Affairs Ministry said "no formal notification" on who will probe the matter has been issued so far.
Official spokesperson of MEA Syed Akbaruddin said "there is no formal decision on which investigating agency will conduct the probe. No formal notification has been issued so far".
According to Home Ministry officials, they have not yet received the exact text of the communication given by New Delhi to Rome giving clarification on the death sentences given to the murder accused.
MHA officials said if any assurance has been given to Italy that prosecutors will not press for death sentence against the marines -- Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone --, it will be duly honoured.
Officials said if any assurance was given to Italy on not providing death sentence, then the marines could be tried under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code or IPC Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder).
Since the case is not a rarest of rare case, even after murder conviction of the marines under Section 302, they will not be given capital punishment.
In that case, the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act 2002 will not be slapped against the marines under which offence of murder is punishable with death sentence.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Apr 03 2013 | 8:50 PM IST

Next Story