Today, On 6th May, The Central Government told the Delhi High Court that the Indian embassy in Indonesia is giving full help, including legal aid, to three Indian citizens who are facing the death penalty for drug-related charges.
New Delhi: The Central Government informed the Delhi High Court that the Indian embassy in Indonesia is providing assistance, including legal aid, to three Indian citizens facing the death penalty in that country.
Justice Sachin Datta received assurance from the Centre’s counsel that the authorities would continue to provide this assistance.
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The court, while hearing a petition filed by the wives of the three convicted Indians in Indonesia, requested a status report and scheduled the next hearing for August 4.
Raju Muthukumaran, Selvadurai Dinakaran, and Govindasamy Vimalkandhan, all from Tamil Nadu, were arrested in July 2024 for allegedly smuggling 106 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine aboard the Legend Aquarius cargo vessel.
The Tanjung Balai Karimun District Court in Indonesia sentenced them to death on April 25 for violating narcotics laws.
On May 2, the High Court directed the Indian consulate in Indonesia to ensure that the Indian nationals received adequate legal aid to pursue available legal remedies.
The Centre’s lawyer stated that even before these directions were issued, the embassy had already taken steps to secure legal remedies and provide adequate assistance to the convicts.
The vice consul of the Indian embassy in Indonesia independently filed the “intent to appeal” against the conviction of the petitioners’ spouses on May 2 because the families were unable to do so. The counsel added that the appeal itself would be filed within a few days.
The lawyer said,
“The embassy is in the process of engaging a lawyer. In a few days, we will give details. We are in touch with the authorities diplomatically also,”
The Centre’s lawyer further disclosed that consular access had been granted, and the embassy had been in communication with Indonesian authorities since July 2024.
The wives of the three men stated that their spouses were the primary income earners for their families and were employed by a shipping company in Singapore. They also indicated that they have limited financial resources.
They emphasized that the time frame for pursuing appellate remedies was very strict and that immediate and appropriate steps were necessary, in addition to providing adequate assistance to the death row convicts.