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The latest development in the Marines' case comes in the wake of reports claiming that both the countries have agreed to settle the murder case through international arbitration.
India is unlikely to challenge Italy, if it moved the Supreme Court seeking the return of teh remaining one of two marines accused of killing two Kerala fishermen in 2012, reports said.
The other marine, Massimiliano Latorre, was granted a period of leave in Italy for medical treatment after he suffered a stroke last year. He was supposed to return by February 15, but the marine, according to an Italian senator, will not be coming back to face trial.
The senator has also said his country was exploring the possibility of asking for the return of the other marine, Salvatore Girone, who is being held in the Italian embassy in New Delhi.
"Massimiliano Latorre will not return to India, and furthermore, the possibility of asking for Salvatore Girone's return is being explored," said Nicola Latorre, president of the Senate Defence Committee, according to Italian media.
The news drew sharp reaction from Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who told mediapersons that he expects the central government to do all in its power to bring the marine back and put both of them under trial as per the Indian law.
The Italian Prime Minister's Office has not confirmed or denied the senator's statement on Latorre, which the Indian MEA said was not the official stance of the Italian government, reports said.
The latest development in the marines' case—that India is unlikely to object to Italy seeking the return of the second marine—comes in the wake of reports claiming that both the countries have agreed to settle the murder case through international arbitration.
Since India has “agreed” to an international arbitration, reports say Italy will have the grounds to argue that there is no reason for both the marines to stay in India.
That means, if the reports are true, Latorre is unlikely to come back to India and Girone is very likely to go back to Italy.
The two men say they accidentally killed two fishermen off the coast of Kerala when they mistook a fishing boat for a pirate ship and fired warning shots while protecting an Italian oil tanker in 2012.
