ISLAMABAD: In a shocking turn of events, former Indian Navy CommanderPurnendu Tiwari has been re-arrested and jailed in Qatar, dashing hopes ofhis return to India just months after seven colleagues were pardoned andrepatriated. Tiwari, part of the eight veterans detained since 2022 onespionage charges, now faces renewed uncertainty as his family urgentlyappeals for diplomatic intervention.
The eight former Indian Navy officers were arrested on August 30, 2022,while working for Dahra Global Technologies, a private firm providingconsultancy to the Qatari Emiri Naval Force. Initial charges, neverpublicly disclosed by Qatari authorities, were widely reported as espionagerelated to sensitive submarine programmes. The case drew internationalattention when a Qatari court sentenced them to death in October 2023.
Following intense diplomatic efforts by New Delhi, including directinterventions by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during high-level engagementswith Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the death sentences werecommuted to prison terms in December 2023. In February 2025, seven of theofficers were released under a royal pardon and returned to India, markinga significant breakthrough in bilateral relations.
However, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, aged 65 and a recipient of the PravasiBharatiya Samman Award in 2019 for strengthening India-Qatar ties, remainedin Doha due to a separate legal matter. Ministry of External Affairsofficials claimed at the time that he was undergoing an independentfinancial investigation linked to irregularities at his former employer,preventing his immediate repatriation alongside the others.
Recent developments indicate that this probe has escalated, leading toTiwari’s re-arrest earlier in December 2025 and subsequent jailing onDecember 6. Reports suggest the case involves allegations of criminalconspiracy and money laundering tied to defence procurement processes, witha Qatari court imposing a three-year sentence and ordering deportation uponcompletion.
Tiwari’s family, particularly his sister Dr Meetu Bhargava from Gwalior,has expressed profound distress over the situation. In public appealsposted on social media and directed to Prime Minister Modi and ExternalAffairs Minister S Jaishankar, they have highlighted Tiwari’s deterioratinghealth and criticised perceived delays in action by Indian authorities,including the Navy establishment.
The family’s pleas underscore the irony of a decorated officer, who servedIndia with distinction before retiring to work abroad, facing prolongeddetention despite the pardon in the primary espionage case. They argue thatTiwari was not the principal decision-maker in the company and may havebeen unfairly targeted in the financial probe.
India-Qatar relations have strengthened in recent years, with robusteconomic ties including Qatar’s role as a major supplier of liquefiednatural gas to India. High-level visits, such as the Emir’s trip to NewDelhi in 2025, have emphasised mutual commitment to the welfare of thelarge Indian expatriate community in Qatar, numbering over 800,000.
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The Ministry of External Affairs has consistently monitored the case,providing consular access and legal support throughout. Officials havereiterated that the government is engaged at the highest levels to resolveTiwari’s situation, building on the success of securing the release of hisseven colleagues through sustained diplomacy.
As the case remains sub-judice in Qatar, with possibilities of appeals anddeportation post-sentence, the outcome will test the depth of bilateralcooperation. Tiwari’s limited communication with family—only twice inrecent days—has heightened concerns about his well-being in detention.
This development revives memories of the harrowing ordeal faced by theveterans, who endured solitary confinement and uncertainty for years. Theirrelease in 2025 was hailed as a diplomatic triumph, yet Tiwari’s ongoingplight serves as a reminder of the complexities in international legalmatters involving expatriates.The Indian government’s response will be closely watched, especially givenpast acknowledgements of Qatar’s cooperation in ensuring the safety ofIndians abroad. With no official statement yet on the latest arrest,expectations mount for renewed high-level engagement to facilitate Tiwari’ssafe return.
Source:https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/mp-news-former-indian-navy-officer-re-arrested-in-qatar-family-appeals-to-pm-modi-fm-jaishankar-for-safe-return
Tags: Qatar, India, Purnendu Tiwari, Indian Navy, Dahra Global
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