Home ministry okays marines’ prosecution under SUA Act that attracts death penalty

The stringent provisions of the act, called Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, attract death penalty for murder on high seas. The sanction, which was granted late on Friday evening, has come in the face of stiff opposition from Italy to try its marines under the act and a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court by the marines to drop all charges on them due to inordinate delay in trial.

NIA, however, is not likely to file a chargesheet in the case anytime soon, sources said. ‘The matter is pending with the Supreme Court. Though we have been granted sanction to prosecute under SUA, we would ideally wait for the SC to decide the matter and then proceed with the chargesheet. Our investigation in the case is complete,’ said an NIA officer.