The Union Home Ministry on Friday alerted airports across the country to prevent Italian Ambassador Daniele Mancini from leaving the country.
The decision was taken a day after the Indian Supreme Court restrained the Italian ambassador from leaving the country without its permission, official sources said.
The apex court in India had taken exception to the Italian government’s refusal to send back two marines charged with the killing of two Indian fishermen.
The two marines were allowed by the court to go to Italy to cast their vote in the elections, thereafter the Italian ambassador had given an assurance to send them back.
Attorney General of India GE Vahanvati had brought the issue before the court on Thursday, saying “its a breach of undertaking given to the highest court of the land and the government is extremely concerned about it”.
After hearing the AG’s submission, the bench issued notices to the ambassador and the two marines and asked them to file their response by March 18.
The two marines were on board Italian vessel Enrica Lexie, when they shot dead two fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15, 2012.