The eight men were working for a private company that helped the Qatari armed forces. (Representational)
New Delhi:
Eight former Indian Navy officers, who have been sentenced to death in Qatar, have been accused of spying for Israel. These decorated officers once commanded Indian warships and were working for a private firm providing assistance to the Qatari armed forces.
The retired officers were arrested in August 2022 on charges of spying and were accused of espionage and state-sponsored terrorism. Reports suggest that they were engaged in spying for Qatar on a secret naval project.
The convicted men include 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. They were employed by a private firm, Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, which provided training and other services to Qatar’s armed forces.
In response to the verdict, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed shock and stated that it would address the issue with Qatari authorities.
Award-Winning Commander
The arrested men are accused of spying on Qatar’s advanced submarines for Israel. These submarines were equipped with special stealth-enhancing materials, making them valuable assets for any navy in the world.
It is believed that the submarines were being constructed in collaboration with an Italian shipbuilding firm.
In 2019, Commander Purnendu Tiwari received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest honor conferred on overseas Indians. The Indian Embassy in Doha had recognized him for his contributions to promoting India’s image abroad through capacity building for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces.
Commander Tiwari, who was the Managing Director of Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, had previously commanded several warships during his tenure in the Indian Navy.
‘Exploring All Options’
The bail petitions of the eight men were repeatedly denied, and the verdict, imposing the death penalty, was announced on Thursday by the Court of First Instance in Qatar.
In response to the verdict, the Ministry of External Affairs stated, “We are deeply shocked by the death penalty verdict and are awaiting the detailed judgment. We are actively working with the family members and the legal team and exploring all available legal options.”
“We consider this case as highly significant and have closely monitored its progress. We will continue to provide full consular and legal assistance, and we will also raise the issue of the verdict with Qatari authorities,” it added.
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