Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan’s team denied his role in the release of India’s naval officers from Qatar, Hindustan Times reported.

“Regarding the reports concerning Shah Rukh Khan’s purported role in the release of India’s naval officers from Qatar, the office of Mr. Shah Rukh Khan says that any such assertions of his involvement are unfounded, emphasizing the execution of this successful resolution solely rests with the Indian government officials and unequivocally denies Mr. Khan’s participation in this matter,” his manager Pooja Dadlani said in a statement.

The statement came after rumours of Khan’s role in the release of eight Indian military officials who were detained on espionage claims by Qatari authorities.

The Indian star had recently visited Qadar where he met Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Doha. He also attended the AFC final as the special guest of honour.

On February 12, Qatar released eight Indian ex-naval officers after dropping their death sentences as India’s foreign ministry credited the Qatari emir for the decision more than 18 months after their arrest challenged diplomatic ties.

Read: Qatar court hands down death penalty verdict for eight Indians

The men were charged with spying for Israel, according to sources, though India and Qatar did not confirm the charges. Their death sentence, handed down in October, was dropped in December.

India said seven of these officers returned to their country and some of the men told media on arrival in New Delhi that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “personal intervention” that helped free them.