8 Indian Navy Veterans sentenced to Death in Qatar

Last week, a court in Qatar sentenced eight Indian individuals, all former Navy personnel, on charges of espionage.

This development came as a shock to the Indian government, as Qatar rarely issued death sentences, and the specific charges against the Indian nationals were not disclosed by Qatari authorities.

The eight Indian nationals were employees of Doha-based Dahra Global and were working in their private capacity to oversee the induction of Italian small stealth submarines U2I2.

The individuals taken into custody in August 2022 include:

• Captain Navtej Singh Gill
• Captain Birendra Kumar Verma
• Captain Saurabh Vasisht
• Commander Amit Nagpal
• Commander Purnendu Tiwari
• Commander Sugunakar Pakala
• Commander Sanjeev Gupta
• Sailor Ragesh

Charges were also framed against two Qatari nationals, one of whom is Khamis al-Ajmi, the CEO of Dahra Global.

Al-Ajmi was kept in solitary confinement for two months starting in October 2022 until he was granted bail.

An Omani national, who had also been detained, was released just before the beginning of the 2022 FIFA Football World Cup.

Deepak Mittal, former Indian Ambassador to Doha, met with the detainees during their detention, and he is now tasked with monitoring the case from Delhi.

According to a report in the Financial Times, the veterans are charged with spying for Israel, though there was no official confirmation of the charges from the Indian side.

Indians in Qatar

While there are approximately 9 million Indians in the Gulf and West Asian region, with about 800,000 living and working in Qatar, the Indian diaspora is generally perceived as law-abiding.

However, there have been instances of offensive behaviour by Indians in the past when local authorities took action, often in response to controversial remarks made by individuals.

This time, the charges of espionage are particularly serious.

The eight Indians were working at Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a defence services provider.

The company provided training, logistics, and maintenance services to the Qatari Emiri Naval Force (QENF).

They had been working there for four to six years, and the company received praise from Indian envoys.

Commander (retired) Purnendu Tiwari, who served as the Managing Director of the company, was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2019 for strengthening bilateral relations between India and Qatar.

The Indian Embassy in Doha was informed about the arrests in mid-September, and on September 30, 2023, the detainees were allowed to briefly speak with their families over the phone.

On October 1, 2022, India’s Ambassador in Doha and Deputy Head of Mission met with the eight Indians.

On October 3, 2022, the first consular access was granted to the Indian embassy.

Then, on March 15, 2023, the last bail plea was rejected.

In March 2023, charges were filed against the eight. On May 30, 2023, Dahra Global closed its operations in Doha, and those who were primarily Indians working there have since returned home.

On October 26, 2023, Qatar’s court announced its verdict of a death sentence for all eight Indians.

India’s Response

In response to the October 26, 2023, verdict, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep shock at the death penalty and stated that they are awaiting the detailed judgment.

They are in touch with the family members and the legal team and are exploring all legal options.

This is not the first time an Indian has faced the death sentence overseas, and the Indian government has consistently offered support to free such individuals.

According to government figures from 2019, there were 44 Indians on death row, spread across Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, some for drug-related offences.

One of the most well-known cases in recent times is that of former Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who is on death row in Pakistan’s custody on charges of alleged espionage.

There are three options now moving forward.

First is the legal process. The Indian government will assist the Indians in challenging the death sentence in higher courts and seeking reprieve from the death penalty.

Second, the mercy petition: The families have filed a mercy plea with the Emir of Qatar, known to grant pardons during Ramadan and Eid.

The Indian government is also pursuing this option.

Third, political and diplomatic options: The matter has been taken up by the Indian government at various official and political levels.