The men, who had been working for a private defence consulting firm in Qatar, were detained in August 2022, accused of undeclared charges. Their case attracted significant attention, with India’s government intervening at the highest levels to secure their release. Here’s a breakdown of the timeline of events and the efforts that led to their return to India.
Photo : PTI
In a diplomatic victory for India, eight former Indian Navy personnel who had been arrested in Qatar on espionage charges were released earlier this year, after nearly two years in detention. The men, who had been working for a private defence consulting firm in Qatar, were detained in August 2022, accused of undeclared charges. Their case attracted significant attention, with India’s government intervening at the highest levels to secure their release. Here’s a breakdown of the timeline of events and the efforts that led to their return to India.
The Timeline of Arrest and Legal Proceedings
2022
- August 30: The eight former naval personnel—Captains Navtej Singh Gill, Saurabh Vasisht, Birendra Kumar Verma, Purnendu Tiwari, and Sugunakar Pakala; Commanders Sanjeev Gupta, Amit Nagpal, and Sailor Ragesh—were arrested in Qatar along with two other individuals. They were accused of espionage, but the exact nature of the charges remained unclear. They were placed in solitary confinement after their arrest.
- October 1: India’s Ambassador to Qatar and the Deputy Head of Mission met the detained men.
- October 3: The first consular access was granted, and Khamis al-Ajmi, CEO of the defence company Dahra Global, where the men were employed, was also detained but later released on bail after two months in solitary confinement.
- March 1, 2023: Several bail pleas for the men were rejected by Qatari courts.
- March 25: Formal charges were filed against the eight men.
- March 29: The trial commenced under Qatari law.
- May 30: Dahra Global closed its operations in Doha, and the company’s former employees, primarily Indians, returned to their home countries.
- August 4: The men were moved from solitary confinement to a regular prison ward.
- October 26: In a blow to their case, a Qatari court sentenced the eight veterans to death.
2023-2024: Diplomatic Intervention and Appeals
India’s government responded swiftly. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met the families of the detained men and assured them of all possible efforts to secure their release. India lodged an appeal against the death sentences, and diplomatic discussions took place at the highest levels.
- November 7: India received another round of consular access to the detainees.
- December 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the case with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, during the COP28 summit in Dubai. This conversation marked a significant moment in India’s diplomatic efforts to secure the men’s release.
- December 28: Qatar’s Court of Appeal commuted the death sentences to prison terms. The decision came after India’s persistent legal challenges and diplomatic interventions.
2024
February 12: The eight men were released by Qatar. Seven of the eight returned to India, marking the end of a prolonged legal and diplomatic battle.
The Role of Diplomatic Efforts and Legal Support
India’s diplomatic strategy was instrumental in the release of the detained personnel. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) consistently asserted that it would pursue all available legal avenues and diplomatic channels to bring the men home. The government expressed “deep shock” at the death sentences and promised to take up the matter with Qatar at various levels.