'Discussing next steps with legal team': MEA after Qatar court commutes death penalty of 8 ex-Indian Navy officers

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ANI quoting MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. "The sentences have been reduced but I don't have any additional information to share until we see the detailed judgement. We would urge you again not to engage in speculation.

The interests of Indians and their family members are our foremost concern. We will also be discussing the next possible steps with the legal team and the family members," ANI quoted Bagchi as saying. The MEA spokesperson was answering queries on the Qatar court commuting the death sentences of the eight former Indian Navy personnel.

Earlier on Thursday, a Qatar Court commuted the death penalty of eight ex-Indian naval officers, arrested last year in the Dahra Global case. Now the sentence has been reduced to jail terms. ALSO READ: Qatar court commutes death penalty of 8 ex-Indian Navy officers to jail terms "We have noted the verdict today of the Court of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, in which the sentences have been reduced.

The detailed judgement is awaited. We are in close touch with the legal team as well as the family members to decide on the next steps," it said. "Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members.

We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities. Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture," the release added.