Court asks Enrica owners to deposit Rs 25 lakh

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday ordered that the controversial Italian ship Enrica Lexie, currently in the custody of Indian security agencies at Kochi can leave India after submitting a bank guarantee of Rs 25 lakh, if the security agencies allow.

The single bench order came in an appeal filed by Dora Valentine, wife of Indian fisherman Valentine alias Jelestine who along with his colleague Ajesh Pinki were killed when security personnel fired at them. The petitioner requested the court that the ship may not be allowed to leave Indian waters without providing security money. Thought the court acceded to the request, the demand of the petitioner for a higher security amount was not accepted.