Indian Supreme Court allowed Italian marine Salvatore Girone, accused of killing Indian fishermen off Kerala coast, to go home, agreeing to relax his bail conditions.
The order was given yesterday. The second accused in the same case returned to Italy in 2014.
Girone could return to Italy while international arbitration into the case was on, the court said. The Centre backed the marine’s plea, saying he should be granted relief on humanitarian grounds.
Girone will be home next Thursday -- Italy’s Republic Day, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi tweeted. Out on bail, the marine has been living in the embassy complex in Delhi.
The arrest of the two marines after the shooting death of two Kerala fishermen on February 15, 2012 strained ties between the two countries, with Italy demanding the sailors be released.