India's utilization of naval officers for espionage is not a new occurrence. India has faced numerous instances where its military, particularly the Navy, has been connected to espionage.

On October 26, 2023, a local court in Qatar sent shockwaves through the international community by sentencing eight former Indian Navy personnel to death. These individuals, all employees of Dahra Engineering and Security Services Limited Liability Company, were found guilty of allegedly spying on a submarine program on behalf of Israel. Shrouded in secrecy, the espionage case took a sudden and dramatic turn as the Qatari court delivered its verdict.
The convicted men, identified as Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh Gopakumar, had been working for Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a private firm providing training and other services for Qatar's armed forces.
This is not the first time that the Indian deep state has deployed its intelligence assets as Naval officers; the hate and crimes against humanity by Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav still have scars on the innocent people of Pakistan, especially the victims of the terrorist activities carried out by Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) against the families of the martyred. Commander Jadhav had admitted before the court that he worked for the Indian intelligence agency, RAW. He was involved in several clandestine activities to create instability in the Karachi and Balochistan areas. During the trial, he was provided the services of a defending officer, as per law. Commander Jadhav was convicted of espionage, anti-state activities, his role in terror incidents, and sabotage in the country. He used his mission name, Mubarak Hussein Patel. Jadhav was taken into custody by Pakistani agencies in March 2016 from Balochistan. 

This is not the first time that the Indian deep state has deployed its intelligence assets as Naval officers; the hate and crimes against humanity by Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav still have scars on the innocent people of Pakistan, especially the victims of the terrorist activities carried out by Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) against the families of the martyred.

This is not India's first time using its Naval officers for espionage services. Espionage is a shadowy world where governments and intelligence agencies deploy covert operatives to gather information for national security or strategic purposes. India has been exposed multiple times for its military, especially the Navy, being linked to espionage activities. The historical cases where Indian naval officers were allegedly involved in espionage shed light on the national insecurities surrounding the complexities India creates with its friends and foes.
The Rustom Case
One of the most well-known espionage cases involving an Indian naval officer is the Rustom Case. In the 1980s, Commander Rustom Pavri, an Indian Navy officer, was arrested and accused of spying for the United States. Pavri was charged with leaking sensitive information to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during his posting at the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC.
Pavri's trial and conviction sparked a diplomatic row between India and the United States. India accused the U.S. of using its diplomatic immunity to shelter a spy. The case strained bilateral relations, raising questions about the extent of espionage activities within the Indian military and its consequences on international partnerships.
Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav
The case of Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav further highlights the Indian naval officers' involvement in espionage. Jadhav was arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2016 and accused of espionage and terrorism activities in Balochistan, Pakistan. While India told the world that Jadhav was a retired naval officer with no official ties to the Indian government, Pakistan has provided documentary evidence and dossiers that prove he is a serving Indian Navy officer.
The Jadhav case became an international flashpoint, with India accusing Pakistan of a sham trial, while Pakistan proved that Jadhav was involved in subversive activities. Pakistan has provided consular access along with family visitations on humanitarian grounds. This case underscores the complexities of espionage accusations and their impact on diplomatic relations.
The Submarine Data Leak
In 2016, a major espionage scandal emerged involving the Scorpene-class submarines being built in India. Classified data related to the submarines was leaked, raising concerns about the compromise of national security. While the leak was not attributed to naval officers directly, it highlighted vulnerabilities in safeguarding sensitive defense information.
Dahra Global Technologies
The eight Indian Navy officers with distinguished service records face death penalty in Qatar, and their association with Dahra raises questions about the nature of their work and the circumstances of their arrest. 
The Indian Naval (veteran) officers spying case dates back to August 2022 when Qatari authorities took the former Indian naval officers into custody. For months, the nature of the charges remained undisclosed. However, the veil of secrecy was lifted when Qatari authorities revealed that these eight individuals had been involved in spying on Qatar's classified submarine program for the benefit of Israel. Qatari officials have claimed to possess electronic evidence supporting these allegations.

The case of Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav further highlights the Indian naval officers' involvement in espionage. Jadhav was arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2016 and accused of espionage and terrorism activities in Balochistan, Pakistan. While India told the world that Jadhav was a retired naval officer with no official ties to the Indian government, Pakistan has provided documentary evidence and dossiers that prove he is a serving Indian Navy officer.

Media reports have shed some light on the activities of Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services. The company advised Qatar on a program to obtain high-tech Italian-made submarines capable of evading radar detection. Despite its significant role in this endeavor, Dahra Global was abruptly shut down in May 2023. Notably, the company had employed a substantial workforce, with as many as 75 Indian nationals and many former Navy personnel.
Al Dahra employees are deployed in various locations across the world. The highest number of employees, i.e., eight, were stationed in Qatar, primarily in the capital city of Doha; an additional six were spread across Qatar. Oman is another significant deployment location with five employees, three of whom are in Muscat. There are three employees in India, with one each located in Hyderabad, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, three employees are based in Muscat, Oman, while two are situated in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, and two more in other parts of France. Furthermore, there is a single Dahra employee in Ankara, Turkiye, Salon-de-Provence, and Toulon, with another additional one each in Turkiye and Telangana, India. This wide geographic distribution underscores Dahra's global presence.
Deepak Mittal, former Indian Ambassador to Doha, met the detainees thrice during their detention by the authorities. India's ambassador to Qatar visited the incarcerated men on October 1 after being granted consular access. Furthermore, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dahra Global made a trip to Doha, Qatar's capital, to secure the release of the imprisoned former naval officers. 
Ambassador Mittal was already facing relationship constraints due to earlier incidents in June 2022, when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar summoned him and handed him the official note, expressing the disappointment of the State of Qatar and its total rejection and condemnation of the controversial remarks made by an official in the ruling party in India against Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), Islam and Muslims. Qatar reaffirmed that the insulting remarks would incite religious hatred and offend more than two billion Muslims worldwide. The government of Qatar showed serious displeasure and emphasized that the actions of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership indicate a clear ignorance of the pivotal role that Islam has played in the development of civilizations around the world, including in India.

In the 1980s, Commander Rustom Pavri, an Indian Navy officer, was arrested and accused of spying for the United States. Pavri was charged with leaking sensitive information to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during his posting at the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC.

The case presents a significant diplomatic challenge for the Indian government. India and Qatar have historically maintained friendly relations with deep economic and defense ties. However, recent events, including the controversial remarks made by a BJP spokesperson and the arrest and sentencing of the retired Indian Navy officers, have strained this relationship.
However, what makes this case even more intriguing is the curious connection of Mohammed Khamis Al-Ajmi, the CEO of Dahra Global Technologies, a leading U.S. Department of Defense's cybersecurity contractor, with the Oman Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT). The company, Al Dahra, is owned by the Omani national Khamis al-Ajmi, a retired squadron leader of the Royal Oman Air Force. This man, too, was arrested along with the eight Indians, but he was released in November 2022.

The Indian Naval (veteran) officers spying case dates back to August 2022 when Qatari authorities took the former Indian naval officers into custody. For months, the nature of the charges remained undisclosed. However, the veil of secrecy was lifted when Qatari authorities revealed that these eight individuals had been involved in spying on Qatar's classified submarine program for the benefit of Israel. Qatari officials have claimed to possess electronic evidence supporting these allegations.

The cases mentioned above reflect the complex nature of espionage accusations. While some naval officers were convicted, others are facing interrogations. The espionage involvement of Indian naval officers is not uncommon in the annals of history. The Rustom Case, Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav's terrorist activities, and the submarine data leak underscore the contentious and multifaceted nature of the espionage realm of Indian Naval officers.

The author is a global competitiveness, risk, and development expert. He is a leading strategic communication specialist. 
Email: [email protected], Twitter: @amirjahangir.