Every week, JP Gupta listens helplessly as his son breaks down in tears during a five-minute phone call from a Qatari detention facility. For nearly three months, Amit Jagjit Prasad Gupta, a senior executive at Indian tech giant Tech Mahindra, has been held in Qatar with no charges officially disclosed.
“All he says is, ‘Dad, I’ve done nothing wrong’… and then he cries,” says his father, still reeling from the shock of his son’s abrupt arrest on 1 January.
Amit, who moved to Doha in 2013, leads Tech Mahindra’s operations in Qatar and Kuwait. According to his family, he was detained by Qatar’s state security from a restaurant near his office. Since then, the family has received little clarity or progress.
No Charges, No Answers
Qatar’s interior ministry has not responded to questions about Amit’s arrest, and authorities have not revealed any formal allegations.
Tech Mahindra confirmed it is “actively coordinating” with officials in both India and Qatar and is providing ongoing support to the family.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has yet to publicly comment, but sources say the embassy in Doha is “closely monitoring” the case and remains in contact with the family and legal representatives.
“If no wrongdoing has been found, he should be released,” said Mr. Gupta.
A Family in Limbo
Amit’s wife, Aakanksha Goyal, has pleaded with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for intervention, expressing concern over her husband’s mental well-being in custody. Despite writing to the PMO in February and receiving acknowledgment, she says no meaningful action has followed.
“We’ve asked to meet with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Until they step in, nothing will change,” she told the BBC.
In February, Amit’s parents were finally able to visit him in Doha with help from the Indian embassy.
“He hugged us and cried the entire time. He kept saying he’s innocent,” his father said.
Back home, Aakanksha struggles to explain the situation to their young children, aged 11 and 4.
“My son’s birthday is coming up in April. He’s still expecting his dad to be there.”
Diplomatic Tensions and a Troubling Pattern
This is the second high-profile case involving Indian nationals detained in Qatar without transparency. In 2022, eight Indian ex-naval officers were arrested and later released after their death sentences were commuted—allegedly over spying charges that were never officially confirmed.
That episode, seen as a diplomatic success for Modi’s government, highlighted the delicate but strategic relationship between India and Qatar, recently elevated during a state visit by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Now, Amit’s case raises renewed concerns about the rights of foreign workers—particularly Indians, who make up a significant portion of Qatar’s workforce.
As the days go by with little progress, his family’s pain deepens.
