NEW DELHI, Dec 28, (Agencies): A Qatari court today reduced sentences awarded to eight former Indian Navy personnel last month in connection with an alleged case of espionage.

The development comes weeks after Qatar's Court of First Instance accepted the appeal filed by the Indian government against the death sentence awarded to the Navy veterans.

The eight former Indian Navy personnel were employees of Dahra Global, a Doha-based private defense services provider. They were arrested in August 2022 for alleged espionage.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on November 9, had stated that the judgment remains "confidential", adding that the appeal was filed in the case.

The MEA also urged everyone to refrain from "engaging in speculation" due to the sensitive nature of the case, adding that the Indian Embassy received another consular access on November 7.

Further, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had also met with the family members of the former naval personnel, who have been sentenced. "On November 7, the Indian Embassy in Doha had received another consular access to the detainees."

A close relative of one of the men detained in Qatar, on the condition of anonymity, said wrong information was put out by several local media outlets in West Asia alleging that the former naval personnel were accused of spying on a submarine project run by Qatar.

According to the relative, the ex-Indian Navy men were not engaged in espionage but had gone to Qatar to help with the country's naval program.