In an emotional appeal, Dr Meetu Bhargava, the sister of retired Indian Navy Commander Purnendu Tiwary, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take urgent steps to secure her brother’s release from prison in Qatar.
Tiwary, a 65-year-old decorated Navy veteran from Gwalior, remains incarcerated in Doha despite being one of the eight former Indian Navy officers who were pardoned by Qatar’s Emir nearly two years ago.
His continued detention has sparked renewed concern over his health, legal status and India’s diplomatic efforts.
Authorities arrested Tiwary along with seven other former Indian Navy officers in August 2022 on espionage charges while they were working for a private firm in Qatar.
The case drew significant international attention after a court initially sentenced the officers to death.
In December 2023, Qatar’s Court of Appeal commuted their sentences to prison terms and granted them time to appeal.
In February 2024, seven of the officers returned to India following a royal pardon by the Emir of Qatar, an outcome widely credited to Prime Minister Modi’s personal intervention.
Bhargava had publicly acknowledged the Prime Minister’s role at the time.
However, Tiwary was unable to return due to a travel ban imposed in connection with alleged financial irregularities involving his employer, Dahra Global Technologies.
Separate Financial Case and Fresh Conviction
Bhargava said authorities have dragged Tiwary into a secondary case that they allegedly stitched together from the original matter.
In a post on X on December 30, she said a court has sentenced her brother to six years in prison on charges of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
Tiwary has reportedly been in jail for the past month and is facing what his sister described as ‘severe ignominy’, despite his distinguished service and his receipt of the President’s Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award.
Bhargava has also raised serious concerns about her brother’s health, saying he is suffering from hypertension, diabetes and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by prolonged solitary confinement, conditions that pose life-threatening risks.
In continuation to my earlier tweets wherein it has been amply clarified that my brother Cdr Purnendu Tiwary has nothing to do with the Financial irregularities of the company. It is the owner of the company who is solely responsible for Company’s Finances and other contractual…
— Meetu Bhargava (@DrMeetuBhargava) December 30, 2025
Bhargava criticised the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for what she termed ‘inaction’, alleging that officials abandoned her brother without reviewing the full details of his case.
She also appealed to the Chief of Naval Staff, questioning the apparent silence of the Indian Navy over the plight of a retired officer.
She said it was ironic that, despite such injustice, the Naval top brass had taken no visible action.
Recent reports indicate that authorities have re-arrested and convicted Tiwary, with deportation possible after he completes his sentence.
The MEA has not issued any fresh updates, despite India’s close diplomatic ties with Qatar and the Emir’s visit to India in 2025.
As of now, neither the Prime Minister’s Office nor the MEA has publicly responded to Bhargava’s appeal.
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