A court in Qatar has decided to commute the death sentences handed down to eight former Indian naval officers, according to a statement released by India's Ministry of External Affairs.
The court's decision to reduce the sentences was welcomed by the Indian government, which had filed an appeal against the initial verdict in October.
The nature of the charges against the officers remains shrouded in secrecy, as neither Qatar nor India has disclosed specific details about the allegations.
However, reports from reputable sources, including the Financial Times and Reuters, citing unnamed insiders, suggest that the men were accused of spying for Israel. The Israeli embassy in India declined to comment, emphasizing that it was not an Israeli matter.
The arrest of the former naval officers garnered widespread attention in India last year, with headlines dominating the front pages.
Despite the high-profile nature of the case, confirmed information about the charges has been scarce, as the court's order has not been made public.
The individuals in question were said to be employees of a private company named Al Dahra, according to the Indian government.
However, there is widespread speculation and reports indicating that they were, in fact, former personnel of the Indian Navy.
Last year, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, addressing the issue in parliament, referred to them as "ex-servicemen" of the country. Families of some of the men have also confirmed their identities and background in the Navy to local media.
India's ambassador to Qatar met with the incarcerated men earlier this month, and on Thursday, during the Court of Appeal hearing in Qatar, Indian officials and family members were present.
The detailed judgment is yet to be released, and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated, "Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture."
India expressed that it is in close contact with the legal team and the families to decide on the next steps once the detailed judgment is available.
