Bhopal-based Tiwary, who has been lodged in a Doha prison since Dec 1, 2025, remains in custody even after being cleared of all charges, with his family saying the issue now goes beyond legal procedure to immediate safety amid the prevailing war situation.
BHOPAL: With tensions escalating in parts of the Middle East, the continued detention of Madhya Pradesh-based former Indian Navy officer Purnendu Tiwary, one of the eight Indians held in the high-profile Qatar espionage case, in a Doha prison despite his acquittal by a Qatari court on March 12 has left his family worried.
They have sought urgent intervention from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for his release. They have also flagged the prison’s location near sensitive international establishments, including the US embassy, as an added concern. Bhopal-based Tiwary, who has been lodged in a Doha prison since Dec 1, 2025, remains in custody even after being cleared of all charges, with his family saying the issue now goes beyond legal procedure to immediate safety amid the prevailing war situation. His sister, Meetu Bhargav, a Gwalior resident, has taken to social media seeking help, tagging the PMO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, defence minister Rajnath Singh, Union home minister Amit Shah, the ministry of external affairs, the Indian Navy and the Indian embassy in Doha, urging urgent intervention. “We were told there were some pending formalities, but it has been over two years now.
Despite serious medical conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, he has been in jail for more than four months,” Bhargav said. She said the Qatar high court, in its March 12, 2026 order, had clearly held him innocent. “The allegations were wrongly attributed to him. He had no role in the company’s finances,” she said, adding that he was forced to sign documents during confinement. She said, “It is difficult to explain to his 87-year-old mother why he alone was left behind.
We believed he would return soon, but that has not happened.” Bhargav added, “Given the current geopolitical situation, it is imperative that he returns immediately. The prison is located close to key international establishments, and any escalation could be dangerous.” Tiwary was among eight former Indian Navy personnel detained in Qatar in 2022 on espionage charges linked to a private firm. The case drew international attention after all eight were initially sentenced, before diplomatic efforts led to relief and the return of seven individuals to India on Feb 12, 2024.
Tiwary, however, remained in Doha as a separate financial case was pursued against him, which his family has consistently disputed.
According to the family, Tiwary, a Bhopal-based former naval officer and a recipient of the President’s NRI Award in 2019, though designated as managing director, was an employee of the company and not its owner, and had no role in financial transactions as per the company’s business rules.
Bhargav alleged that after the first case, in which all eight officers were later pardoned by the Emir of Qatar, the company owner attempted to shift blame onto her brother, believing that the officers would never be released.
Tiwary, 65, is also dealing with multiple health conditions, including diabetes and hypertension, which the family says makes the delay in his release more distressing. While there has been no official word on the procedural status following the acquittal, lawyers familiar with international legal processes indicate that post-verdict formalities, including documentation and clearances, can sometimes delay release even after a court order.
