The home ministry will make a presentation before National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on the status of the case related to the killing of Kerala fishermen by two Italian marines after Rome's plea for ‘quick positive outcome’ on the long pending issue.
The move came amidst reports that Italy has sought a ‘consensual solution’ to the issue of the two Italian marines facing murder charges. Home Secretary Anil Goswami and top home ministry officials were on Wednesday closeted for nearly an hour preparing the notes of the much-publicised case to be presented before Doval, possibly on Thursday.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi may be called to attend the meeting. Rohatgi had earlier represented the two Italian marines in the Supreme Court. The external affairs ministry on Tuesday, however, denied that New Delhi was in talks with Rome to resolve the issue.
The Supreme Court is hearing Italy's plea challenging the jurisdiction of the NIA, probing the case, in charging the marines for murder. The court is slated to hear the case on December 12.
The two marines -- Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone -- are accused of killing two Kerala fishermen off Kerala coast in 2012. The main dispute between India and Italy is over the place of the incident.
The NIA, which has prepared the chargesheet against the marines, maintains that the killing took place in India's waters as the applicability of the Indian Penal Code had earlier been extended to India's exclusive economic zone.
Italy disputes this, arguing that the marines were in international waters and, hence, should stand trial in Italy. One of the Italian marines, Massimiliano Latorre, has been allowed to go home by the Supreme Court last month after he suffered a condition similar to a mild stroke.
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had called up to congratulate him for his victory in the Lok Sabha elections and enquired about the progress in the case of the two marines held in India.
While Renzi spoke about bolstering ties between the two countries, he also expressed hope for a ‘quick positive outcome’ in the marines case.
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