A court in Qatar is set to announce its verdict later this month in the case of eight former Indian Navy personnel who have been in custody on undisclosed charges since August 2022. This update was provided by the external affairs ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, on Thursday.
These eight individuals, which include decorated officers with experience in commanding major Indian warships, were employed by Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a private firm offering training and related services to Qatar’s armed forces. Despite their bail pleas being denied multiple times, the Qatari authorities have extended their detention.
The seventh hearing in the case took place on October 3, and India is closely monitoring the developments in the “court of first instance,” Bagchi shared during a regular news briefing. While he didn’t provide specific details, Bagchi mentioned that a judgment is anticipated later this month.
When questioned about whether the Qatari authorities had revealed the charges against the men during the court proceedings, Bagchi confirmed that the charges had been presented as part of the hearings but refrained from delving into the legal aspects.
Indian Ambassador in Qatar, along with his deputy, visited the detained men in prison on October 1, following the grant of consular access. The Indian authorities are maintaining regular contact with the families and providing any possible assistance.
Bagchi reassured that the men have legal representation in court, and India eagerly awaits the court’s judgment with the hope that they will soon be able to return to India.
According to sources who chose to remain anonymous, it is believed that the eight men are facing charges of espionage. However, both Qatari and Indian authorities have refrained from disclosing any specific details regarding the charges against these individuals, who have endured prolonged periods of solitary confinement.
In a related development, Qatari authorities recently ordered an Indian journalist and his spouse to leave the country due to their reporting on the case of these eight detained men.
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Source: Hindustan Times
