Former Indian Navy Officer Purnendu Tiwari Re-Arrested in Qatar, Return to India in Jeopardy

Doha/New Delhi, January 5, 2026: Purnendu Tiwari, a former officer of the Indian Navy, has been arrested again in Qatar, raising serious concerns over his return to India. Tiwari, 65, is one of eight former Indian Navy officers who were initially sentenced to death on espionage charges in 2022, but later pardoned following intervention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While seven of the officers returned to India in February 2025, Tiwari’s case remained under a separate investigation.

Re-Arrest Over Financial Case
According to reports, Tiwari has now been taken into custody in Qatar in connection with a separate financial and money laundering investigation. He has been sent to jail pending trial, halting any plans for his return. Tiwari’s sister, Dr. Meetu Bhargava, residing in Gwalior, has made multiple appeals to the Indian government, urging Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to intervene for her brother’s safe return.

Background of the Case

• August 16, 2022: Eight former Indian Navy officers, including Tiwari, were arrested in Qatar.
• 2022–2023: Proceedings began in Qatar’s courts on national security and defense-related charges, eventually resulting in death sentences.
• 2024: Diplomatic interventions by the Indian government led to relief for seven officers; Tiwari’s case remained pending.
• February 2025: Seven officers returned to India; Tiwari stayed in Qatar under separate investigation.
• December 2025: Qatar’s trial court convicted Tiwari in a financial and money laundering case, sentencing him to six years in prison with substantial fines.

Details of the Conviction
The Qatar criminal court, in case number 3005/2024, found Tiwari guilty of criminal conspiracy and money laundering, linked to the misuse of defense procurement processes and illicit financial transfers through military contracts. The court imposed heavy fines, including QAR 10 million, EUR 1.3 million, and restitution of over QAR 69 million and EUR 31 million in government funds, along with additional punitive penalties.

Medical and Humanitarian Concerns
Tiwari, a recipient of the NRI Award from the President of India in 2019, suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and is under ongoing medical treatment. His family has repeatedly requested diplomatic intervention, citing humanitarian grounds for his release.

Current Status and Implications
Under the Qatar court’s ruling, Tiwari is to serve three years for criminal conspiracy and three years for money laundering, after which he may be deported to India. Until then, he remains in a Qatari prison, with his family and the Indian government closely monitoring the situation.

Tiwari has written multiple letters to Indian authorities, urging urgent action to secure his safe return. His case underscores the delicate diplomatic challenges involved in international legal disputes affecting Indian nationals abroad.