Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Amid rising tensions over Italy's refusal to send back two marines charged with killing of two Indian fisherman off the Kerala coast in February last year, India has stopped its Ambassador-designate to Rome, Basant Kumar Gupta from taking charge.
The new envoy, Basant Kumar Gupta, was due to depart for Rome on Friday. However, Gupta has been told not to leave for Italy, said government sources.
The government has already said that ties with Italy are being reviewed in the wake of the row over the two marines, who were allowed to go back to Italy to vote in the country's national elections.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court barred Italian ambassador to New Delhi Daniele Mancini from leaving the country.
The two marines - Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone - have been charged with homicide for allegedly killing two fishermen in an anti-piracy operation. Italy claims it has jurisdiction in the case as the incident took place in international waters.
First Published: Friday, March 15, 2013, 12:46