NEW DELHI: Qatar has commuted the death sentence of eight former Indian Navy personnel, who were arrested for espionage charges, announced the Indian External Affairs Ministry on Thursday. An Appellate Court in Qatar reduced the death sentence of the eight Indians to jail terms.

However, a detailed judgment from the court is awaited on the issue. MEA said that the ministry is keeping in touch with the families of the arrested Indians.

Indian Ambassador to Qatar and other officials along with family members were present in the court in Dahra during the legal proceedings. MEA said they will be restricted from commenting on the case due to the high confidentially involved.

Just days after Qatar announced the death penalty to all eight Indians, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with all the relatives of the incarcerated Indians. Under the leadership of Jaishankar, India approached Qatar through diplomatic channels, beseeching the kingdom to revert their decision.

Apart from the espionage charges, Qatar hasn’t yet disclosed anything related to the case. One among the eight jailed Indians is a Malayali who hails from Thiruvananthapuram. The decision from the Qatar court comes just days after PM Modi held a closed-door meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 event in Dubai.