Shah Rukh Khan denies any role in release of 8 Indian Navy veterans from Qatar, hails ‘very able’ leaders
World's fourth richest actor is Shah Rukh Khan. Photograph:( Instagram )
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On Tuesday, Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy claimed that the actor had helped the Indian government by persuading the Qatar government to release the eight Indian Navy veterans convicted and sentenced on charges of espionage.
On Tuesday, Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy claimed that the actor had helped the Indian government by persuading the Qatar government to release the eight Indian Navy veterans convicted and sentenced on charges of espionage.
Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan has denied his involvement in the release of eight Indian Navy veterans by Qatar. On Tuesday, Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy claimed that the actor had helped the Indian government and persuaded the Qatar government to release the eight Indian Navy veterans held captive in the state on charges of espionage.
"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 (sic)," Swamy said in reply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's post on X.
As Swamy's post went viral on social media, Khan's team issued a statement denying his role and shutting down Swamy's claim.
"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)," Shah Rukh Khan's manager Pooja Dadlani shared a statement on Instagram.
"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.
Shah Rukh Khan in Qatar
The Bollywood star was recently in Qatar to attend the AFC Final as a guest of honour. During his visit, he also met the Qatari Prime Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. Pictures of the two interacting were widely circulated on social media.
In a statement issued early Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs said seven of the eight former Indian Navy personnel had returned to India from Qatar.
The Navy veterans were detained in the Gulf country in an alleged case of espionage in August 2022. Authorities in Qatar had accused them of spying on a submarine, and officers were jailed in the country the same month.
