The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that the Qatari Court has commuted the death penalty of eight former Indian naval officers arrested in the Dahra Global case last year.
The new sentence has been modified to jail terms.
In response to the verdict, the Ministry of External Affairs stated, “We have taken note of the decision today by the Court of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, which has resulted in reduced sentences.”
The ministry added that they are awaiting the detailed judgment in the case and are closely coordinating with the legal team in Qatar.
The statement continued, “We are in close contact with the legal team and family members to determine the next steps. Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have supported them from the inception of the matter, and we will continue to provide all consular and legal assistance. Additionally, we will persist in addressing the matter with Qatari authorities.”
The eight Indian nationals have been held in Qatar since October 2022, accused of allegedly spying on a submarine program.
The retired naval personnel were initially sentenced to death by a Qatari court on undisclosed charges.
Earlier this month, the MEA revealed that two hearings had occurred in the case.
“There have been two hearings. We filed an appeal, along with the families, and the detainees had a final appeal. Two hearings have since been held. One was on November 30th, and the other was on November 23rd. I think the next hearing is coming up soon,” said Bagchi.
The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that the judgment against them was passed by the Court of First Instance of Qatar.
The spokesperson also highlighted a recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad, during the COP28 summit in Dubai.
They discussed bilateral partnership and the well-being of the Indian community residing in Qatar.
