Supreme Court To Hear Centre's Plea On April 9 To Close Cases Against Italian Marines

In February 2012, India had accused two Italian marines, Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre, on board the MV Enrica Lexie - an Italian flagged oil tanker - of killing two Indian fishermen who were on a fishing vessel in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The Supreme Court today agreed to hear on April 9 the Centre's plea seeking closure of cases against two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012. The Centre told the top court that it has contacted the victims' family members and due compensation has been paid to them. A bench of Chief Justice Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who mentioned the matter for urgent listing, that on last occasion the court had asked the Centre to contact the victim's family. They were contacted. They have been paid the due compensation. They are here also, Mr Mehta said.