Deposit Rs 10 crore relief to close Italian marines case: SC to govt

New Delhi, April 9

The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday asked the Centre to deposit in its account Rs 10-crore compensation to be paid by Italy to the families of two Indian fishermen killed by Italian marines off Kerala coast in 2012.

“We will ask for the amount to be deposited in this court; only then we will close the proceedings,” a Bench led by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The CJI said the top court would disburse the compensation money to the kin of the deceased fishermen.

“The amount of compensation will be paid to India in a particular account specified by the MEA. We direct that the said amount be deposited in the Supreme Court within one week thereafter,” it said, posting the Centre’s plea for closing the case on April 19. The court was told that Rs 10 crore was to be paid in terms of an award given by a Hague-based international tribunal. “Indians are best negotiators... We have negotiated a good deal...They have paid Rs 10 crore more. The victim families have accepted it,” Mehta told the Bench. — TNS