In a major diplomatic win for India, eight ex-Navy officials, who were jailed on spying charges in Qatar, were released.
Navtej Gill, Saurabh Vasisht, Purnendu Tiwari, Birendra Verma, Sugunakar Pakala, Sanjeev Gupta, Amit Nagpal, Sailor Ragesh.
The veterans had 'unblemished stints, up to 20 years, in Indian Navy. They held important posts including that of instructors.
The veterans after leaving Navy worked for private defence firm named Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services.
The 8 Indians oversaw induction of Italy's U212 stealth submarines in Qatari Emiri Naval Force.
The ex-officers were accused of spying on Qatar’s highly specialised and exclusive submarines for Israel.
Incarcerated since August 2022, they were moved from solitary confinement were given phone access a year later.
The eight Indians were sentenced to death by a court.
While India had challenged death penalty, their families had also filed mercy plea to Emir, who is known for granting pardons in Ramadan & on Eid.
The death sentence was commuted and they were handed reduced punishment.