A Qatar court has responded to India’s appeal regarding the death penalty imposed on eight former Indian Navy personnel. The sentence, issued last month on charges of alleged espionage, is under review after India’s intervention. Sources reveal that the Qatari court will schedule a hearing following a thorough examination of the appeal.
These eight individuals were detained in August 2022 by Qatar’s intelligence agency on suspicion of spying. However, specific charges against them have not been disclosed by Qatari authorities. Despite several rejected bail petitions, a verdict was delivered last month by Qatar’s Court of First Instance.
Indian authorities, having been granted consular access, are actively pursuing the release of these former navy veterans. The Ministry of External Affairs has urged caution against speculating due to the case’s sensitive nature.
The detained officers include Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, and Sailor Ragesh Gopakumar. These veterans boast distinguished service records of up to 20 years in the Indian Navy, having held significant positions, including instructional roles.
Meetu Bhargava, the sister of one of the detained officers, sought government assistance to secure her brother’s return. In a heartfelt plea directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she implored for immediate action to bring these esteemed navy officers back to India without further delay.
Sources By Agencies