The Central Government on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that the Indian Embassy in Indonesia is actively providing assistance, including legal aid, to three Indian nationals sentenced to death in the Southeast Asian nation for drug trafficking.
Appearing before Justice Sachin Datta, the Centre’s counsel assured that the government would continue to support the convicts, Raju Muthukumaran, Selvadurai Dinakaran, and Govindasamy Vimalkandhan, who are currently on death row following their conviction by the Tanjung Balai Karimun District Court on April 25. The trio, all hailing from Tamil Nadu, were arrested in July 2024 for allegedly smuggling 106 kilograms of crystal meth aboard the Legend Aquarius, a cargo vessel.
The High Court was hearing a petition filed by the wives of the three men, who sought urgent legal assistance for their spouses and highlighted the financial hardships they face. The petitioners said their husbands were breadwinners employed at a shipping company in Singapore and stressed the need for immediate steps given the strict deadlines under Indonesian law for filing appeals.
The Centre informed the court that consular access had been granted soon after the arrests, and the Indian mission had been in diplomatic communication with Indonesian authorities since July 2024. Notably, the Vice Consul of the Indian Embassy in Indonesia filed an “intent to appeal” on behalf of the convicts on May 2, as their families were unable to take the necessary legal steps from India. The government’s counsel added that the embassy was in the process of finalizing the appointment of a legal representative and would soon share further details.
Justice Datta directed the Centre to file a status report and listed the matter for further hearing on August 4.
