Kochi : The Kerala High Court today ordered the release of Italian vessel Enrica Lexie after furnishing a bank guarantee of three crore rupees. This was on an appeal filed by the relatives of the two fishermen killed in the firing against a single Bench verdict, which ordered the release of the vessel by furnishing a bank guarantee of 50 lakh rupees.

A Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Justices Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and C T Ravikumar, however made it clear that the order for the release of the vessel is confined to the litigations relating to the compensation case. The Court also released the vessel from the surveillance by the Navy, Coast Guard and the Cochin Port Trust, once the bank guarantee is furnished.

Referring to its earlier suggestion this morning that the issue may be settled out of court, the Division Bench left that option open.

The sisters of Ajeesh Pink, one of the fishermen killed in the firing incident, has sought a compensation of two crore rupees, while that of Jelastine, the other fisherman killed in the firing had sought a compensation of one crore rupees.