Oommen Chandy seeks removal of Harin Raval in Italian Marines case

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Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Saturday sought Additional Solicitor General Harin Raval's removal from the Italian Marines' case for remarking that the state government had no jurisdiction to detain the Italian ship as firing from it took place outside India's territorial waters.

A press release from the Chief Minister's Office here on Saturday afternoon said that Chandy faxed a letter to union Law Minister Salman Khurshid seeking Raval's replacement in the case.

"We request the case should be handed over to the Attorney General and an inquiry be initiated to find out why a change in the stand was made by Raval when he appeared on Friday," said Chandy's letter.

Earlier, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party function, Chandy said the additional solicitor general's remark before the Supreme Court was contrary to the stand of the state government and that it as 'not the position of the state or centre'.

"We checked up with the central government and it has been found what he said in the court on Friday was not the stand of the centre.

"The centre's stand is the same as to what we have taken," Chandy said.

All hell broke loose on Friday when Chandy and the state government came under fire from the opposition after Additional Solicitor General Harin Raval during a hearing in the apex court said that the state government had no jurisdiction to detain the Italian cargo ship as the firing from it took place outside the Indian territorial waters (20.5 nautical miles off the coast while Indian territory extends to only 12 nautical miles).

Two Italian marines Massimillano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, detailed as security crew on cargo vessel Enrica lexie, were taken into judicial custody Feb 20 for the Feb 15 shooting of two Indian fishermen, Ajesh Binki, 25, and Gelastine, 45, about 14 nautical miles off Alappuzha coast in Kerala.

The Chandy next hearing of the case is scheduled for April 30.

Central Minister M. Veerappa Moily, speaking to reporters in Thrissur, denied the opposition allegation that the change in the centre's stand was effected due to external influences.

"What was told in the court on Friday was his personal opinion and not the position of the centre. Corrective measures would be taken," said Veerappa Moily.

CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday alleged that the development proved the 'relationship between the Congress party and Italy'.

"There was a lot of delay as police got access to the ship after a few days of the shooting and by then vital evidences might have been erased. With Friday's stand of the centre, it is now clear that even the state government played hide and seek in this case," Vijayan said.

Apart from the already appointed state government counsel, a senior lawyer would appear for the April 30 hearing.