India has accused Pakistan of misusing the International Court of Justice for propaganda as the top UN court began a four-day public hearing in the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav.

India, during the first day of the hearing at The Hague on Monday, based its case on two broad issues — breach of Vienna Convention on consular access and the process of resolution.

Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage.

Representing India, former Solicitor General Harish Salve said, it is an unfortunate case where the life of an innocent Indian is at risk. He said, Pakistan’s story is solely based on rhetoric and not facts. Mr Salve added that Jadhav’s continued custody without consular access should be declared unlawful. He said, India had sent 13 reminders to Pakistan for consular access to Jadhav, but Islamabad is yet to accede.

Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested Jadhav from restive Balochistan province on March 3, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran.