Qatar acquits Indian Navy veteran Purnendu Tiwary but keeps him jailed, family seeks PM Modi's help

While global attention remains focused on the ongoing conflict in West Asia, another development in the Qatar has unfolded away from the public eye.

Indian naval veteran Commander Purnendu Tiwary—one of the eight former Indian Navy personnel linked to the high-profile espionage case in Doha, who was separately held in a financial case—has been acquitted by the Qatar High Court in a financial wrongdoing matter, his family told Firstpost’s Bhanu Pratap.

According to court documents seen by Firstpost, the court on March 12 accepted appeal No. 1508/2026 filed by the accused, set aside the earlier judgment, and acquitted Tiwary of all charges. The court held that the transactions were conducted with the complainant’s consent and lacked criminal intent.

When Qatar pardoned the eight Indian Navy veterans following the personal intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, their families believed the ordeal had finally ended.

However, Tiwary’s octogenarian mother in India continues to wait for her son’s return as the family says that they have no clue when he will return as the legal proceeding continues to take place.

More from World

'Be prepared for every challenge, war may be long-lasting': PM Modi cautions against fallout of US-Iran war in Rajya Sabha War vs Covid: Why the conflict in West Asia is being compared to the pandemic

Tiwary’s continued detention despite acquittal

Despite the acquittal, Commander Tiwary remains in jail in Doha, a city currently reeling under Iranian missile and drone attacks.

His family said that despite the court ruling, he continues to face prolonged legal and custodial challenges. They also alleged he was “left behind by the MEA” due to procedural issues and has since endured a prolonged ordeal, including deteriorating health.

The family has urged Indian authorities to facilitate his return at the earliest, citing his worsening medical condition during continued detention.

Family’s appeal for intervention with folded hands

As his health continues to deteriorate in a Doha jail, the family has appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for intervention, calling his continued detention a matter of national honour. Previously, after the detention, PM Modi’s personal intervention led to a royal pardon, after which the Navy veterans were released.

“In fact, there was no case against my brother when all eight were taken into custody and confinement. Thus, when all eight were pardoned, all eight should have returned to India. Our family, having full faith in the Government of India and the MEA, remained quiet, believing my brother would soon return as per the statements of the MEA spokesperson. However, it was never expected that he would be put in jail after two years of waiting by ‘stitching’ cases out of the first case for which a pardon had been granted. He continues to suffer badly in jail and has been there for four months now, despite severe medical conditions that have been repeatedly reported,” Bhargav told Firstpost.

Quick Reads

View All

China-US showdown ahead of Xi-Trump summit: Beijing retaliates against US trade probes

'Bibi sold it as easy': Vance pushes back on Netanyahu’s Iran war claims in tense call, says report

Allegations of procedural lapses

Tiwary’s sister, Meetu Bhargav, said that although he has now been cleared of financial charges, uncertainty over his release continues.

She urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and PM Modi to intervene, alleging procedural lapses in his continued detention.

She further told Firstpost that while the Prime Minister had stated that all eight Navy veterans had returned to India, the MEA made “a blunder leaving Commander Tiwary in Doha”, citing pending paperwork.

Notably, his seven peers were released on February 12, 2024.

Claims of coercion and medical distress

“It has been more than two years of waiting. It is beyond imagination that, despite being a patient with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from the first case, alongside other severe medical conditions, he has been in jail for more than four months. These cases were stitched out of the first case where he had no role. The owner of the company, CEO Khamis, is solely responsible for the company’s finances and contractual obligations. Legally, the owner should be held accountable for any irregularities. Instead, Khamis shifted the blame onto Purnendu regarding financial matters. This was ultimately rejected by the High Court of Qatar, which pronounced a verdict on March 12, 2026, stating that Cdr Purnendu Tiwary is innocent,” she said.

She further alleged that during confinement, the company owner later shifted blame onto her brother, the technical head, after he was allegedly held in solitary confinement and coerced into signing documents in Arabic.

‘Doha prison is located near under attack US buildings’

“Leaving my brother alone two years ago was unexpected. It is beyond imagination that the GoI/MEA could do this. It is very difficult to explain to his 87-year-old mother why her son was left behind. Military ethos and normal ethics do not permit leaving a group member behind like this,” she said.

Appealing for immediate intervention, she added, “Despite numerous pleas, it is unfortunate that my brother continues to suffer. With the present geopolitical condition, it has become imperative that he returns to India immediately. Doha prison is located near US buildings that are currently under attack.”

Family alleges Dahra Global CEO used his influence to shift blame

Earlier, while speaking to Firstpost on phone, Bhargav alleged that the CEO of Dahra Global used his influence to shift financial blame onto her brother and that he was forced to sign acknowledgements during solitary confinement. She maintained that the 65-year-old veteran remains jailed without fault.

“My brother was the Managing Director (Technical), not the CEO. All financial powers rested with Mr Khamis. Despite this, false cases of financial fraud were stitched together,” Bhargava said.

Tiwary’s decorated Navy journey

After retiring from the Indian Navy, Tiwary joined Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a firm that provided training to the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces.

A navigation specialist, he previously commanded INS Magar and served as the fleet navigating officer of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet. In 2019, he became the first armed forces veteran to be honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.

In a previous ruling, his bail plea had been rejected.