THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Nov 24: The Indian government’s appeal on the death sentence imposed on eight former Indian Navy personnel by a court last month was accepted by a Qatari court on Thursday.
According to sources, the court stated that it is reviewing the appeal and that the next hearing is anticipated to take place soon.
In October, a Qatari court handed down death sentences to eight ex-Indian Navy personnel who had been held in the country for more than a year.
On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated, “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.”
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Spokesman for the External Affairs Ministry Arindam Bagchi stated that India is in communication with the Qatari authorities over the issue and that the government will keep providing the former Navy personnel with every legal and consular support.
In August 2022, Qatar apprehended eight former Indian Navy officers over allegations of espionage for Israel during their employment with a company in the Middle East.
The ex-officers, 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 Ragesh, were detained by Qatar’s intelligence agency in Doha on August 30, 2022.
The Qatari authorities consistently denied bail requests from the Navy veterans, and the Court of First Instance in Qatar pronounced the death penalty in October of this year.
