The Qatari court has officially accepted the appeal document concerning the death sentence imposed on eight former Indian naval personnel. India filed the appeal in response to the death penalty being imposed on these individuals. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on November 9 that the judgment would be kept confidential, urging everyone to avoid speculation due to the sensitive nature of the case. On October 26, a Qatari court sentenced the retired naval personnel to death on unspecified charges.
MEA chief spokesperson Arindam Bagchi emphasized that the legal team is pursuing further legal steps and that an appeal has already been filed. The MEA has actively coordinated with Qatari authorities, securing consular access on November 7. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has also met with the families of the former naval personnel sentenced. The individuals, former employees of Dahra Global, a Doha-based private defence services provider, were arrested in August 2022 for alleged espionage. The families and friends remain hopeful for early relief, emphasizing that the circumstances of the detention have been misreported and that the individuals were in Qatar to assist with the country’s naval program, not engaged in espionage. The families have urged for a more sensitive and accurate handling of the matter.