The Supreme Court on Monday (April 27, 2026) issued notice to the widow of one of the fishermen killed by Italian Marines aboard the vessel, ‘Enrica Lexie’, off the coast of Kerala in 2012.
The order passed by a Bench headed by Justice Dipankar Datta came in an application filed by the Naples-based owner of the vessel, M/s Dolphin Tanker, for the release of a ₹3 crore bond and all other undertakings given in connection with the case of the fatal shooting.
Senior advocate Sanjay M. Nuli and advocate Anu B., appearing for the owner, sought a modification of an apex court order of May 2, 2012 and a direction to the Registrar General of the Kerala High Court to release/return the ₹3 crore bond.
The May 2012 direction had directed the owner company to execute the bond before the Registrar General of the High Court to ensure the “production of the vessel and securing the presence of six crew members as and when called upon by any court or the investigating officer or any other lawful authority”.
An FIR had been lodged on February 15, 2012 at Neendakara Coastal Police Station after two Italian Marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, opened fire on the Indian fishing boat, St. Antony, in the Arabian Sea and killed two fishermen aboard it. A case of murder was lodged and the Indian Coast Guard intercepted the ship and brought it to the Port of Cochin on February 16, leading to the arrest of two Italian Marines on February 19, 2012.
