HUGE! Qatar court accepts ex-Indian navy personnel's appeal against death sentence
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New Delhi, Nov 24: In a huge development, a Qatari court has accepted the appeal document on the sentencing of eight former Indian naval personnel to death. An appeal was filed by India against the death penalty awarded to the eight Indian ex-Navy personnel in Qatar.
Notably, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on November 9, stated that the judgment remains "confidential", adding that the appeal was filed in the case. It also urged everyone to refrain from "engaging in speculation" due to the sensitive nature of the case, adding that the Indian embassy received another consular access on November 7.
MEA chief spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said earlier, "Qatar's court passed a judgement on October 26 in the case involving 8 employees of Al Dara company." He added that the retired naval personnel were sentenced to death by a Qatar court on charges that have not yet been made public officially.
Qatar court has accepted India's appeal against the death penalty to eight former Indian Navy personnel, who were handed the death sentence last month in an alleged case of espionage. Sources said that the Qatari court will set a hearing date soon after examining the appeal.
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"They (the legal team) are now pursuing further legal steps and an appeal has already been filed," he said. "The judgment is confidential and has only been shared with the legal team. They are now pursuing further legal steps and an appeal has already been filed. We will also remain engaged with the Qatari authorities in this matter," the MEA spokesperson said at a weekly media briefing earlier.
The MEA has been actively coordinating with the Qatari authorities and secured consular access on November 7.
Further, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also met with the family members of the former naval personnel, who have been sentenced.
"On November 7, the Indian embassy in Doha received another consular access to the detainees," Bagchi informed during the media briefing, adding, "We are in touch with their family members too. External Affairs Minister met the family members earlier this month in New Delhi."
Also Read: EAM Dr S Jaishankar meets families of 8 Indians facing death row in Qatar
The eight former Indian Navy personnel were employees of Dahra Global, a Doha-based private defence services provider. They were arrested in August 2022 for alleged espionage.
On October 26, former Indian Navy employees -- 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 -- were awarded death penalty by the Court of First Instance in Qatar after they were arrested in August 2022 by Qatar intelligence on charges espionage. They were employed with AL Dahara company there before serving the Indian Navy with distinction and some of them are highly decorated as well.
India called the ruling 'deeply shocking' and deployed all diplomatic channels to engage with Qatar on this case.
"We will continue to extend legal and consular support and I would urge everyone not to engage in speculation considering the sensitive nature of the case," Bagchi added.
Notably, on October 30, the families of the detained ex-naval personnel met with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, who assured them of full government support.