Following India's appeal against the death penalty imposed on eight Indian sailors in Qatar, a Qatari court has officially accepted the appeal document and will now review it to render a decision on the case. The next hearing is anticipated in the near future, with a slim chance of the court delivering a judgment.

The original verdict was issued on October 26 by the Court of First Instance of Qatar, condemning the eight men associated with Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services. This decision came almost a year after their arrest in August 2022.

Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, has confirmed that India is actively engaging with Qatari authorities regarding the detention of eight former Indian Navy officers. Bagchi assured that the Indian government will persist in providing comprehensive legal and consular assistance to the ex-Navy personnel involved in the case.

The MEA said, “The judgment is confidential. There is a court of first instance that gave the judgment, which was shared with our legal team. Considering all legal options, an appeal has been filed. We are in touch with the Qatari authorities.”

He added, "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."

In August 2022, Qatar detained the eight former Indian Navy officers on suspicion of espionage for Israel while they were employed by a company in Qatar. The individuals, including 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 Rajesh, were apprehended by Qatar's intelligence agency in Doha on August 30, 2022.

Despite repeated bail pleas, the Qatari authorities rejected the requests from the Navy veterans. The situation escalated when the Court of First Instance of Qatar announced the death penalty in October of the same year. The Indian government remains actively involved in diplomatic efforts to address the matter and ensure the welfare of its citizens.

Image source: India Today