India has appealed against a Qatar court verdict that sentenced eight Indian Navy veterans to death last month, the Centre said. India continues to pursue the matter diplomatically and the Indian embassy in Doha got another round of consular access to the detainees on November 7.
The MEA said the judgment was confidential and shared only with the legal team. “We are now pursuing further legal steps. We will also remain engaged with the Qatari authorities in this matter,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
“We are in touch with their families. We will continue to extend all legal and consular support, and I would urge everyone not to engage in speculation considering the sensitive nature of the case,’’ he added. A hearing on the subject is scheduled for November 23. The allegations against the former Navy officers have not yet been made public by Qatari authorities, but it appears that they passed on confidential information to Israel regarding a submarine project in Qatar.
India described the sentencing as deeply shocking but has refrained mostly from speaking publicly on the issue, citing the confidential nature of legal proceedings in Qatar. Similar to other Gulf nations, India's relations with 800,000 Indians living in Qatar have been expanding, with a current emphasis on enhancing defence and security cooperation. Later this month, the defence cooperation pact between India and Qatar is up for renewal.