Italian govt reneged on its promise: Solicitor General

The Italian government has gone back on its undertaking to the Supreme Court by refusing to send back its two marines, accused of shooting dead two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala, a top law officer said today.
Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran said, "It is sad that rule of law is being flouted at the highest level of court."
"After submitting to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, nobody, however high and mighty, can take the Supreme Court for a ride," he said.
After giving an undertaking to the apex court, the Italian government should abide by it, he said.

The two accused marines, Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone, were allowed by the apex court on February 22 to travel to Italy for four weeks under the control and custody of the Ambassador of Italy in India, to cast their ballot in the elections scheduled for February 24 and 25.
The court had said that the marines are only allowed to travel to Italy and remain there and will have to return to India.
The two marines were on board the Italian vessel 'Enrica Lexie', when they had shot dead the two fishermen on February 15, last year.