Not PM Modi, Did Shah Rukh Khan Help Free Ex-Indian Navy Officers From Qatar? Here's The Truth

There have been rumours of Shah Rukh Khan getting involved in the release of ex-navy officers from Qatar.

Qatar on Monday released eight jailed former Indian Navy personnel nearly three-and-a-half months after they were handed down death sentences in a case of suspected espionage.

How Rumours Of SRK's Involvement Started?

It all started after BJP leader Subramanian Swamy claimed on his X account that the Bollywood actor persuaded the leaders of Qatar for the safe release of the ex-Indian officers. He had claimed that Khan could do what Prime Minister Narendra Modi, The Ministry of External Affairs and National Security Advisor could not do through diplomacy.

He wrote, "Modi should take Cinema star Sharuk Khan to Qatar with him since after MEA and NSA had failed to persuade the Shiekhs of Qatar, Modi pleaded with Khan to intervene , and thus got an expensive settlement from the Qatar Shiekhs to free our Naval officers."

However, the actor's office has rejected the news.

"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. Khans participation in this matter (sic)," the actor's spokesperson Pooja Dadlni shared a statement on Twitter.

"Additionally, all matters involving diplomacy and statecraft are best executed by are very able leaders. Mr. Khan like many other indians is happy that the naval officers are home safe and wishes them all the best," the statement added.

In fact, the freed Navy veterans have given credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomacy for their release. One of the officers told ANI: "It wouldn't have been possible for us to stand here without the intervention of PM Modi. And it also happened due to the continuous efforts of the Government of India."

Another officer said, "We waited almost for 18 months to be back in India. We are extremely grateful to the PM. It wouldn't have been possible without his personal intervention and his equation with Qatar. We are grateful to the Government of India from the bottom of our hearts for every effort that has been made and this day won't have been possible without those efforts."

The Indian nationals, who worked with the private company Al Dahra, were arrested in August 2022 reportedly in an alleged case of espionage. The charges were filed against the eight Indian Navy veterans on March 25 last year and they were tried under Qatari law.