The Delhi High Court has directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Consulate in Indonesia to provide immediate and comprehensive legal assistance to three Indian nationals facing the death penalty in Indonesia. The court's intervention follows a petition filed by the wives of the convicted men, who cited their husbands' lack of financial resources to secure legal representation abroad.

Raju Muthukumaran, Selvadurai Dinakaran, and Govindasamy Vimalkandhan, all from Tamil Nadu, were arrested in July 2024 for allegedly attempting to smuggle 106 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine aboard the cargo ship 'Legend Aquarius'. An Indonesian court recently sentenced them to death under the country's strict narcotics laws. The Tanjung Balai Karimun District Court issued the death penalty on April 25, 2025.

Justice Sachin Datta of the Delhi High Court emphasized the urgency of the matter, noting the strict deadlines for appeals in Indonesia. The court has instructed the Indian Consulate in Indonesia to ensure the convicted men receive adequate legal representation and to assist them in pursuing appellate remedies. Furthermore, the MEA has been directed to engage with Indonesian authorities at the diplomatic level to protect the rights of the Indian nationals under applicable international conventions or bilateral agreements. Advocate Ashish Dixit, Standing Counsel for the Central Government and the MEA, has accepted the notice and requested time to obtain instructions.

The Delhi High Court has also asked authorities to facilitate communication between the three men and their families in India. The petitioners stated that they only received a copy of the Indonesian judgment on April 29, leaving them with very little time to act. They also emphasized that the men were the sole breadwinners for their families. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for May 6, 2025.