New Delhi: The Indian government on Friday confirmed that former Indian Navy official Purnendu Tiwari remains detained in Qatar in connection with a separate legal case, even after his death sentence in an earlier espionage case was commuted along with seven others in 2023.
Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified that Tiwari’s current detention has no connection with the earlier espionage case that led to the arrest of eight former Navy personnel in 2022.
MEA Says Separate Case Led to Continued Detention
Speaking during the weekly media briefing, Jaiswal explained that while the other seven former naval personnel returned to India after their sentences were commuted by a Qatari court, Tiwari remains in custody due to a separate legal matter.
“The eighth naval veteran, he has a particular case against him. He was detained in that (case). It has nothing to do with the earlier case,” Jaiswal said.
He added that a Qatari court has already delivered a verdict in the new case and sentenced Tiwari accordingly.
“The court there has given a ruling under which he has been given a sentence. We are in touch with him, with his family and his lawyers. So, that is where this particular issue is,” he said.
Sources indicated that the separate case relates to alleged financial irregularities connected to Tiwari’s former employer.
Background: Arrested Alongside Seven Other Naval Veterans
Tiwari was among eight former Indian Navy personnel detained by Qatari authorities in 2022 on espionage charges. In 2023, a Qatari court commuted their death sentences, enabling seven of them to return to India.
However, Tiwari’s continued detention in connection with a different case has prevented his return, making him the only member of the group still in custody in Qatar.
Family Raises Concerns Over Health and Legal Process
Tiwari’s sister, Meetu Bhargava, recently expressed concern over his continued detention, claiming that he has suffered prolonged hardship and declining health.
In a social media post, she alleged that the government had failed to secure his release.
“Commander Tiwary has endured nearly four years of extreme hardship in Doha and has now been languishing in jail for almost five months. He is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) along with other serious medical conditions. His health is deteriorating rapidly,” she said.
Bhargava further alleged that the new charges stemmed from the same case for which he had earlier received a pardon from the Qatari leadership.
“What is even more alarming is that the cases against him were stitched out of the very same case for which he had already been pardoned by the Qatari Amir, despite having no role in the company’s financial matters,” she added.
Government Says It Remains in Contact
The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that Indian authorities remain in regular contact with Tiwari, his legal representatives, and his family as the matter progresses through the legal system in Qatar.
Officials emphasised that diplomatic engagement continues, though the case remains subject to Qatari judicial processes.