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Eight Indian Navy veterans have received death sentences in Qatar for alleged espionage, leading to a strong reaction from India. The individuals, who had been in solitary confinement since their arrest in August of the previous year, were working for a private company, Dahra Global Technologies, and Consultancy Services, which provided services to Qatar's armed forces.
The sentenced individuals 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 Rajesh Gopakumar. These former Navy officers had significant service records of up to 20 years and had held crucial positions within the Indian Navy, even receiving prestigious awards.
The exact charges against these individuals were not made public by the Qatari authorities or the Indian government. However, reports indicate that they were arrested for alleged espionage. Some of the accused were reportedly involved in a sensitive project related to Italian technology-based midget submarines with stealth features.
The private firm they worked for, Dahra Global Technologies, closed its operations in Doha in May, leading to the return of its primarily Indian workforce. Khamis al-Ajmi, the owner of the company and a retired squadron leader of the Royal Oman Air Force, was also arrested but was released in November 2022.
India has expressed shock over the death sentences and is closely monitoring the case. The Ministry of External Affairs in India is awaiting the detailed judgment and is exploring all legal avenues. They are providing consular and legal assistance to the sentenced individuals and plan to raise the matter with Qatari authorities.
Despite the families of the Indian Navy personnel filing a mercy plea with the Emir of Qatar, there is no official confirmation regarding its status.
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