SC lifts order restraining Italy Ambassador from leaving India

The court also directed the Centre to take immediate steps for setting up a special court to hold proceedings against the marines

The Supreme Court today vacated its order restraining Italy's Ambassador Daniele Mancini from leaving India as the two Italian marines, accused of killing two fishermen, returned here to face the proceedings as per commitment given by him to the court.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir vacated its March 14 order by which it had restrained the Ambassador from leaving the country after the Italian government had refused to send back the marines.

The court also directed the Centre to take immediate steps for setting up a special court to hold proceedings against Italian marines Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone, who had allegedly killed two fishermen off Kerala coast last year.

The court had on March 14 asked the envoy not to leave the country without its permission. The bench had on March 18 expressed its anguish over the Ambassador "reneging" from his undertaking to the court on the return of the marines.

It had said that the envoy had breached its trust over his undertaking on return of the marines and had also told him that he did not enjoy diplomatic immunity.

Sensing the mood of the apex court, the Italian government later agreed to send back the marines and they reached India within the time limitation fixed by the court.

The two marines, who were allowed by the apex court on February 22 to go to Italy for four weeks to cast their vote in the general elections there, had returned on March 22.