With the Centre informing the Supreme Court on Monday that the two Italian marines on trial here will not face anti-piracy charges under the strict maritime SUA law that entails capital punishment, the government was immediately accused of caving in to pressure from Rome. The marines’ case had triggered an intense diplomatic row between New Delhi and Rome. The government, which had so far insisted the law would its course, on Monday faced accusations of going “soft” on the Italians after its U-turn on not pressing with charges under Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Maritime Navigation And Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act against the marines. With the government dropping charges the controversial SUA, which gave the NIA jurisdiction to probe the marines’ case, there is now a big question mark on whether the agency can continue with the case. On Monday, the Italian government also questioned the NIA’s jurisdiction in the matter. Government sources said the NIA will contest the Italian government’s claims in court, saying it can continue with the case on the basis of the FIR. The last option will be to transfer the case to the CBI.
