Late on Sunday, family members of eight former Indian Navy officers, previously arrested in a 2022 espionage case in Qatar, were informed of their release by the Indian government. All eight men, employees of Doha-based company Dahra Global, were detained in August 2022 on charges of spying for Israel. The Qatari appellate court had commuted their initial death sentences in December 2023, with Commander Purnendu Tiwari receiving the harshest punishment of 25 years.
Although details of their release are not disclosed, all eight men, except Commander Purnendu Tiwari, have landed in New Delhi. The reason for Tiwari’s delayed return remains unclear. Family members expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his intervention and thanked the Emir of Qatar for agreeing to their release.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated, “The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and homecoming of these nationals.” The legal team had been given 60 days to file an appeal in Qatar’s highest court after the commutation of their sentences in December 2023.
