'Deeply Shocked': MEA To Contest Qatar Court's Death Sentence For 8 Indians In Al Dahra Case

The MEA has said India will take up the death sentence verdict given to the 8 former Indian Navy officers directly with Qatar.

MEA issues statement after Qatar court sentences 8 former Indian Navy officials to death. (Representational Image)

Source : Getty Images

The Court of First Instance in Doha, Qatar, handed down a verdict today, sentencing eight Indian former Navy officials to death in connection with their involvement in the now-defunct Al Dahra company, known as Dahra Global. The verdict has prompted an immediate response from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India.

In response to the verdict, the MEA issued a statement on Thursday expressing its deep concern. The ministry revealed that they possess initial information regarding the judgment and are eagerly awaiting the release of the detailed judgment from the Qatari authorities.

"We are deeply shocked by the verdict of the death penalty and are awaiting the detailed judgment. We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options. We will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities," the MEA stated.

The Indian government has been closely monitoring this case and has attached significant importance to it. The MEA reiterated its commitment to providing all necessary consular and legal assistance to the convicted individuals. Additionally, the Indian authorities will engage with the Qatari government to address the situation.

However, the MEA acknowledged the confidential nature of the proceedings and declined to comment further at this time.

READ | 8 Ex-Indian Naval Officers In Qatar Jail For A Year Now. Is It A Pak Game Plan?

What Is The Al Dahra Case?

The former Navy personnel -- Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh -- were working for a private Qatari firm called Al Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services.

They were working to oversee the induction of Italian small stealth submarines U2I2. The eight naval personnel were arrested in August 2022 on undeclared charges of spying for Israel.

Interestingly, the authorities in Qatar never gave an explanation on the exact reasons of their arrest.

The arrest of the naval personnel first came to light in September 2022. A month after they were taken into custody, they were granted consular access in October.

The naval officers got some relief after they were shifted from solitary confinement to a double-bed occupancy in jail. Subsequently, phone access and family visit were also allowed by the Qatari officials.