The families of eight former Indian Navy personnel who have been sentenced to death in Qatar have denied any involvement in espionage and emphasized the lack of evidence supporting the allegations. The individuals, namely 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 Gopakumar, were employed by Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a private firm that provided training and services for Qatar’s armed forces.
Although the details of the verdict issued by the Court of First Instance in Qatar on October 26 remain unclear, reports have suggested that the men were convicted of spying on a submarine project for Israel. However, the families of the accused have refuted these allegations, stating that their loved ones were not engaged in espionage and were solely focused on building the Qatari navy and enhancing the nation’s security. They highlighted the absence of any allegations or evidence from Qatar to support the spying claims. Additionally, the families clarified that none of the individuals were involved in any submarine program while working at Dahra Global.
Many of the accused were decorated officers who had commanded warships during their tenure in the Indian Navy. The families emphasized the impeccable service records of the accused, stating that they served with integrity and honor, representing the nation with distinction.
The eight men were arrested in August 2022 and have remained in custody as their bail applications were repeatedly rejected. The Indian government expressed deep shock at the verdict and has been working closely with the Qatari government to secure the release of the former Navy personnel. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with the families of the accused and assured them of the government’s commitment to their case. He shared their concerns and pain, stating that the government would continue to make every effort to secure their release and would closely coordinate with the families in this regard.
