Italian Marines Case: Italy's Defence Minister Pinotti rejects India’s claim for jurisdiction

ROME: Italy has rejected India's claim to jurisdiction in the case of two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen and warned that it would seek international arbitration if it fails to reach an agreement with the new Indian government over the issue.

The marines who are in India would need the permission of the Supreme Court to leave the country, unless the Centre withdraws the case.

The Italian government said it hoped that India's newly-elected government led by Narendra Modi would be open to negotiations, while stressing that it would take the case for international arbitration if the pair are not allowed to return home soon.

“It's still possible to seek an agreement with the new Indian government, but if an agreement isn't possible and we find ourselves faced with attempts at deferment or rejection, we'll go ahead with the arbitration procedure and we hope to have them here as soon as possible,” Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti said in Rome on Tuesday.

“Our government confirms the rejection of Indian jurisdiction. They (marines) were on an anti-piracy mission and, therefore, were covered by the immunity granted to government officials and this certifies the international ambit of the case,” Pinotti was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.

Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone were taken into custody by the Kerala Police after they killed two fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15, 2012, mistaking them for pirates.

The case is being investigated by the National Investigative Agency and the two marines have been have been living and working at the Italian embassy in India pending charges in the case that has strained relations between New Delhi and Rome.