Indonesian Indian nationals sentenced to death: HC guidance consulate in Delhi, MEA intervenes | Indian news

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed Indonesian nationals to defend the death penalty issued by three Indian nationals and directed the Indian consulate in Indonesia to take the necessary measures to ensure that convicted individuals receive appropriate legal representation and appropriate assistance in seeking adaptive remedies.

In addition, the consulate has been directed to promote communication between convicted individuals and their families.
Ashish Dixit, a permanent lawyer who advocates the Central Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA), accepted the notice on behalf of the respondents and asked for time to obtain instructions on the matter.

Justice Sachin Datta, who presided over the case, arranged the next May 6, 2025 hearing and directed the MEA to interact diplomatically with the Indonesian government to protect the rights of Indian nationals in accordance with applicable international conventions or bilateral agreements, if any.

The case involved a petition filed by the spouses of three Indian nationals – Raju Muthukumaran, Selvadurai Dinakaran and Govindasamy Vimalkandhan, who were sentenced to death by Indonesian courts for crimes related to narcotics.

The three men were hired by the shipyard when they were detained by the Indonesian narcotics department for possession of narcotics, according to the request.

Subsequently, according to the verdict of Tanjung Balai Karimun District Court on April 25, 2025, they were convicted and sentenced to death under Indonesian law.

The petitioner, the convicted wife, argues that their husbands are the only family to support their family and lacks the economic means to take prescribed appeal remedies in Indonesia.

They further stressed that the restriction period for appeals was very strict and that emergency legal proceedings were required after the judgment.