Since the eight naval veterans have been detained by Qatar’s interior ministry for more than ten and a half months, and it is unclear when their trial will conclude, some of their family members have petitioned the Emir of Qatar for mercy to pardon them.
“Since the majority of the veterans are older than 60 years old, the trial has had a negative influence on their health. The accusations that have been made against them are unclear. The length of the case is unknown because they are based on provisions of Qatari legislation.
Two of the investigators were tried at the most recent hearing on June 21, and the next hearing is scheduled for July 19. Exactly how long this trial will last is unknown. The same reason that some family members petitioned for mercy and begged the Emir to forgive the veterans, according to a source.
Usually twice a year, on National Day and during Ramadan, the Emir grants pardons. Unless expats are involved in the pardons, in which case their consulates occasionally provide information about the releases, no formal information identifying those who have been freed is typically made public.
A family member of one of the veterans said, “Every time we spoke to our kin in Doha over the phone, he maintains that they have not done anything unlawful.” “The Court of First Instance is where the matter is now being heard. There have been four hearings.
Our Embassy is paying great attention to it. It’s unclear exactly what the charges entail. We are making sure that our citizens are getting the necessary legal support. Every week, there are meetings and phone conversations with the family members.
They are regularly informed of the case’s developments, according to Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. The eight naval veterans are actually returned, and the tide changes in their favour; only time will tell.
WAITING IN CONFINEMENT
July 31, 2022
The Qatari Ministry of Interior removes eight naval veterans (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 Rajesh) for questioning from their Doha homes. The former sailors were employed by Dhara, an Omani company with offices in Doha. They have been held in custody ever since and never made it back home.
October 3, 2022
First, Consular access was granted.
The CEO of the company, an Omani Emir, also came down to Doha to get his officials out, but he was kept in solitary confinement too for two months, after which he was released on bail.
March 15, 2023: The last bail plea was rejected. Month after month, applications were being submitted for bail, but they were getting rejected each time.
March 25, 2023: Charges were filed against the eight veterans, and they are being tried under Qatari law
May 30, 2023: Dhara closed its operations in Doha, and all those working there (primarily Indians) have since returned home
Four hearings have taken place since the legal trial began
July 19, 2023: Date of next hearing
