SC pulls up Italian envoy, restrains him from leaving India till April 2
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up Italy's ambassador Daniele Mancini, saying we don't trust you any more.
The Supreme Court slammed the Italian ambassador for breaching undertaking and restrained him from leaving India till April 2, when it will hear the matter again.
"We did not expect the Italian ambassador to behave like this," the SC said.
The SC said a contempt of court charge would be made out only if the ambassador fails to bring back the marines by March 22.
Italian ambassador Daniele Mancini had personally negotiated the release on bail of the two marines last month, enabling them to return to Italy to vote in the country's general election.
After a year of disagreement over their fate between Rome and New Delhi, the Italian government announced last Monday that it would renege on its commitment to send the men back and they would remain at home.
A furious Indian government has warned of "consequences" and is reviewing its ties with Italy, while the Supreme Court ordered that Mancini should remain in the country and explain himself in court on Monday.
The restraining order appeared to run contrary to international rules guaranteeing diplomats freedom of movement, but India has insisted that Mancini willingly submitted himself to the jurisdiction of its top court.
Orders were issued to Indian airports last Friday asking them to prevent Mancini from leaving if he tried to board a plane without permission.
The envoy, who signed an affidavit personally guaranteeing the return of the marines, is not expected to appear in court personally on Monday and is likely to reply either in another written statement or via his lawyers.
The marines shot dead two fishermen off India's southwestern coast in February last year when a fishing boat sailed close to the Italian oil tanker they were guarding. They say they mistook the fishermen for pirates.
Italy insists the marines should be prosecuted in their home country because the shootings involved an Italian-flagged vessel in international waters, but India says the killings took place in waters under its jurisdiction.
Relations between the two countries have also been soured by corruption allegations surrounding a $748 million deal for the purchase of 12 Italian helicopters which the Indian government is now threatening to scrap.
SC pulls up Italian envoy, restrains him from leaving India till April 2 - The Times of India
Order restraining Italian envoy from leaving India to continue: SC
The Supreme Court has said an order restraining the Italian Ambassador from leaving India will continue till further orders.
The Italian Ambassador Daniele Mancini has told the Supreme Court he has complete immunity under the Vienna Convention.
The apex court has said all authorities would take appropriate steps on the order restraining the Italian envoy from leaving the country.
“We don’t accept and we don’t believe in the Ambassador’s statement. He has lost trust,” the Supreme Court has said.
"We had not expected the Italian Ambassador to renege like this," the apex court said.
The Supreme Court has fixed April 2 as the date for further hearing. It says the two marines still have time to come back by March 22. "Strictly speaking they have not violated our order," the Supreme Court said.
Attorney-General G. E. Vahanvati says the Ministry of External Affairs is fully mindful of its international obligations.
The Supreme Court said: "We are concerned over Mancini’s intentions, we want to know if he is going to comply with the order."
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