In a significant development, a Qatar court has accepted the appeal filed by the Indian government against the death sentences imposed on eight former Indian Navy personnel last month, media reports suggest. The decision comes after India expressed deep shock at the initial ruling and vowed to explore all legal avenues in the case.
The eight former Indian Navy personnel were handed the death sentence by Qatar’s Court of First Instance on October 26, sparking outrage and concern from India. The Indian government promptly filed an appeal against the ruling, seeking a reconsideration of the harsh sentences.
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi confirmed that the Indian embassy in Doha had secured consular access to the detained individuals and reaffirmed India’s commitment to providing them with comprehensive legal and consular support throughout the legal process.
Regarding the case, Bagchi stated, “The Court of First Instance of Qatar passed a judgment on October 26 in the case involving eight Indian employees of Al Dahra company. The judgment is confidential and has only been shared with the legal team. They are now pursuing further legal steps, and an appeal has been filed. We will also remain engaged with the Qatari authorities on this matter.”
The Indian nationals, who were employed by the private company Al Dahra, were arrested last August in connection with an alleged case of espionage. However, the specific charges against them have not been made public by either the Qatari authorities or the Indian government.
The charges were formally filed against the eight Indian Navy veterans on March 25, and they were subsequently tried under Qatari law.
The Indian Navy had previously raised the issue of the detained former naval personnel with high-ranking government officials in an effort to secure their release.
