Qatar, 27 October: Eight former Indian Navy personnel have been handed the death penalty in Qatar. Calling the judgment "shocking", the foreign ministry said it would not comment given the "confidential nature of proceedings" but assured that it would contest the judgment.

The men, including decorated officers who once commanded major Indian warships, were working for Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a private firm that provided training and related services to Qatar's armed forces. Sources said some of them were working on a highly sensitive project -- Italian technology-based midget submarines with stealth characteristics. Reports claim they have been accused of spying.

The men have been in jail since August 2022. Granted consular access to them, New Delhi has been working to secure their release. The men went to trial in March.

Their requests for bail were repeatedly denied, and Qatari authorities kept them in custody longer. The Court of First Instance of Qatar rendered a decision today.

Captains Navtej Singh Gill, Birendra Kumar Verma, Saurabh Vasisht, Cdr Amit Nagpal, Purnendu Tiwari, Cdr Sugunakar Pakala, Cdr Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh are the ones who have been sentenced.

"We are awaiting the full verdict and are extremely shocked by the death penalty verdict. The foreign ministry released a statement saying, "We are investigating all legal options and are in contact with the family members and the legal team."

"This case is very important to us, and we have been keeping a close eye on it. We will keep providing all legal and consular support. We will discuss the ruling with the authorities in Qatar as well," the ministry said in a statement.

Meetu Bhargava, a former officer's sister who was detained, had asked the government for assistance in getting her brother back.

She had begged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step in in a post on X, the former Twitter.