- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
A statement was issued by Khan’s office that said the execution of the successful resolution solely rests with the Indian government officials.
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE team of ace Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan has denied the latter’s involvement in the release of Indian Navy veterans who were arrested in the Middle Eastern nation of Qatar and even given punishment over alleged espionage on its soil.
Earlier in the day, former Indian parliamentarian Subramanian Swamy asked prime minister Narendra Modi in a tweet to take Khan with him to Doha alleging that it was the actor who helped him in freeing the Indian nationals while the external affairs ministry and national security adviser failed, triggering a buzz on social media.
A statement was issued from the office of the 58-year-old actor that said, “Regarding the reports concerning Shah Rukh Khan’s purported role in the release of India’s naval officers from Qatar, the office of Mr Shah Rukh Khan says that any such assertions of his involvement are unfounded, emphasizing the execution of this successful resolution solely rests with the Indian government officials and unequivocally denies Mr Khan’s participation in this matter.
Read: Modi critic says Shah Rukh Khan helped to free Indian navy veterans from Qatar; Internet reacts
“Additionally, all matters involving diplomacy and statecraft are best executed by our very able leaders. Mr Khan, like many other Indians, is happy that the naval officers are back home safe and wishes them all the best.”
From the office of Mr. Shah Rukh Khan pic.twitter.com/s7Kwwhmd6j
— Pooja Dadlani (@pooja_dadlani) February 13, 2024
Khan’s manager Pooja Dadlani also shared the same statement on her social media handles, countering the rumours.
Read: Modi in Qatar on Feb 14, announcement comes on day Doha freed 8 jailed Indians
Khan was recently in Doha for his work commitments and also met Qatari prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani who welcomed the former as he attended the AFC Asian Cup final. The veteran actor was the special guest of honour on the occasion.
On December 28, 2023, Qatar’s Court of Appeal commuted the death penalty awarded to all eight Indian nationals in October 2023. They were imprisoned in 2022 and were accused of allegedly spying on a submarine programme. The retired naval personnel were sentenced to death by a Qatar court on charges that have not yet been made public officially.
Of the eight former Navy officers, seven have already returned to India, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) informed through an official statement on Monday (12), the same day it was confirmed that Modi will visit Qatar from the UAE.
The Indian government also released an official statement welcoming the decision to set the veteran officers free, saying, “The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of these nationals.”
(With agency inputs)
