Exclusive: Couple jailed in Qatar in drug trafficking charges finally returns home

Convicted in drug trafficking charges by a Qatari court, Mumbai-based Sharique Qureshi and his wife Oniba have finally arrived back home after proving their innocence. Earlier the court had sentenced them to 10 years in prison. Following intervention from the Indian government, the couple was released and subsequently returned to India on April 15, 2021,

Mumbai: Mumbai-based Sharique Qureshi and his wife Oniba, who were sentenced to 10 years in jail in a drug case in Qatar in 2019, returned to their home city on Thursday with their minor daughter.

A Qatari court had convicted Sharique and Oniba of drug trafficking and sentenced them to 10 years in prison. Following intervention from the Indian government, the couple was released and subsequently returned to India on April 15, 2021.

The couple has been cleared of all charges after it came to light that a relative planted narcotics in their bag without their knowledge.

Talking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Qureshi and Oniba explained how one of their close relatives tricked them and they inadvertently landed into a drug trafficking case.

They said that their step-aunt "gifted" them a honeymoon trip to Qatar, arranged their tickets and convinced them to travel along with a bag. The trip was arranged in July 2019.

The couple passed the Mumbai airport hassle-free but after reaching Qatar airport they were arrested as narcotics were found in their luggage.

Arriving at the Qatar airport, Qureshi and Oniba were arrested on drug trafficking charges and were found guilty in a year-and-a-half-long trial. The court awarded 10 year jail sentence to the couple. However, Qureshi's family back home presented evidence of their innocence and convinced the Government of India to plead for their release.

Sharique had recorded the phone call between him and his step aunt which became the tool to prove their innocence.

Sharique and his wife requested people to be cautious and never fall into such traps.