A Qatari court has revised the fate of eight former Indian Navy personnel by commuting their death sentences to varying prison terms, allowing India to potentially invoke a 2015 bilateral agreement with Qatar on the transfer of sentenced individuals.
The ruling, issued by Qatar’s Court of Appeal during the hearing of an appeal filed by the families of the eight men, overturned the previous death sentences imposed earlier this year. The individuals – Captains Navtej Gill and Saurabh Vasisht, Commanders Purnendu Tiwari, Amit Nagpal, SK Gupta, BK Verma, and Sugunakar Pakala, along with sailor Ragesh – were detained in August 2022 on undisclosed charges, speculated to be espionage-related. However, the specific nature of the charges remains undisclosed by Qatari and Indian authorities.
The court’s decision substituted the death penalties with imprisonment for varying durations, as reported by individuals familiar with the matter. This revision allows India to potentially leverage the 2015 bilateral agreement with Qatar, enabling citizens convicted of criminal offenses to serve their sentences in their home country. However, the agreement does not extend to individuals sentenced to death.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the reduction of sentences and assured continued engagement with legal teams and families to chart the subsequent steps. While the verdict remains pending in detail, Indian authorities are exploring options, including the possibility of further appeals against the revised prison terms.
The saga began in October 2022 when the eight men, including highly decorated naval officers, were initially sentenced to death after over a year of detention. The Indian authorities expressed deep dismay at the initial verdict and vowed to explore all legal avenues to assist the former naval personnel.
The Court of Appeal’s recent decisions, following multiple hearings and consular access granted to the Indian ambassador, offer a ray of hope for the incarcerated individuals. Previously, the families had petitioned the Emir of Qatar for clemency, a customary practice during Qatar’s national day and Eid festivals.
These former naval personnel were associated with a subsidiary of Oman-based Dahra Engineering & Security Services, catering to training and services for Qatar’s armed forces. The subsidiary ceased operations in May this year.
Amidst this development, the focus shifts to the potential repatriation of these individuals to India, highlighting the intertwined legal, diplomatic, and humanitarian aspects of the case.
Sources By Agencies
